Attack on journalist: Three cops face department action

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rural police have taken departmental action against three police officers, including the sub-inspector of Varkala police station, for allegedly assaulting the Varkala correspondent of Kerala Kaumudi. The officers, identified as K R Biju, Station House Officer; civil police officers, Bijoy and Praveen have been asked to report at Rural police headquarters on Wednesday. The officers are yet to get new positions.

The action was taken by Rural SP P Asok Kumar following the instructions of Thiruvananthapuram Range IG Manoj Abraham. Earlier, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed Manoj Abraham to look into the matter as the journalists in the district have come up with protests against the alleged police action.  According to Asok Kumar, further disciplinary action will be taken based on the report to be submitted by Attingal ASP R Adithya after a preliminary inquiry. Adithya told ‘Express’ the report would be submitted soon and further action will be taken.  

The incident took place on Sunday night when the correspondent, Sajeev Gopalan, was standing in front of his residence to see off his relatives. Soon, two police officers, Bijoy and Praveen, came on a motorcycle and roughed him up. The police allegedly continued to thrash him turning a deaf ear to the pleas of his wife and daughter. Later, Biju also came to the spot and started beating Sajeev.

However, the police had said Sajeev and his four friends were found boozing at a public place in front of his residence. Though the police had warned them not to drink in public, Sajeev and friends refused to budge and verbally abused at the police officers. He had even torn the uniform of a police officer.
Later, the Station House Officer came and allegedly slapped on the face of Sajeev owing to alleged repetitive provocation,