Thiruvananthapuram: DGP Loknath Behera has constituted a special team headed by ADGP Crimes Nithin Agarwal and announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for tracing the three absconding in connection with the death of engineering student Jishnu Prannoy. However, no action is likely against the police officials who prevented Jishnu’s parents from entering the police headquarters on Wednesday. It was in the wake of strong pressure from Jishnu’s family that Mr. Behera decided to constitute a new team to nab the three absconding – Nehru College of Engineering vice-principal N.K. Sakthivel, invigilator C. P. Praveen and exam in-charge Dipin.
According to sources, IG Thiruvananthapuram-range Manoj Abraham submitted a preliminary inquiry report to Mr Behera stating that the police action was unavoidable to prevent Jishnu’s parents and others from entering the police headquarters. He, however, mentioned that the issue could have been tackled with more caution. The IG also suspect a conspiracy by the SUCI activists and others to stage a demonstration inside. They have demanded action against the police officials involved in Wednesday’s incident as well as the arrest of all those responsible for Jishnu’s death. Mahiji also said that she was not ready for any compromise until the accused were heldMr. Behera also sought the help of police chiefs of all states to nab the accused.
A reward of Rs. 1 lakh was announced to those giving valid information regarding those absconding. A previous team headed SP Akbar constituted to trace the absconding would also become part of the new team. The ADGP will finalise the members of the team. According to sources, the police suspect that SUCI members Shajar Khan, Mini and Sreekumar as well as V.S. Achuthanandan’s former aide K.M. Shajahan had conspired to stage a demonstration in the police headquarters after entering it along with Jishnu’s family. It was not sure whether Jishnu’s parents or any of their relatives were aware of the conspiracy. The police even strongly objected to the bail to the five who were arrested on Wednesday, including god-man Himavalbhadrananda alias ‘thokuswami’. His presence at the spot still remains mysterious, police sources said
. Meanwhile, the preliminary probe also found serious intelligence lapses in identifying the participation of SUCI activists and others along with Jishnu’s parents and relatives. The absence of senior officers, including city police commissioner Sparjan Kumar and deputy commissioner of police Arul B. Krishna at the spot, is also viewed as serious lapses. The city police commissioner also went on a week-long leave from Wednesday citing illness.
According to police, the Museum police had called on Jishnu’s parents on Wednesday morning and informed them that the state police chief would meet them at 11 a.m. and that a vehicle would be sent for taking them to the police headquarters. They did not object to it at that time. Later, they decided to walk towards the police headquarters, accompanied by SUCI leaders and Mr Shajahan. Police sources also justify that they were compelled to use force as those accompanying Jihsnu’s parents and relatives tried to push forward. As the police tried to remove Mini, she grabbed Mahija and Mahija was holding firm to her brother Sreejith. It was in this commotion that Mahija fell down, said a police official.
