Raid on CPM office: DCP Chaithra did not err, says inquiry report
KP Saikiran | TNN | Jan 29, 2019, 07:08 IST
Representative imageTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even when chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan have openly expressed displeasure over DCP Chaithra Teresa John's midnight search at the CPM office here, police top brass who conducted an inquiry into the matter have stood by her.
A report by ADGP Manoj Abraham, submitted to state police chief Loknath Behera, has said that it has been found based on documentary evidence that the officer's act was bona fide and correct as per law, and all modalities of a search were followed in the case.
The incident that triggered the controversy took place at 11.45 pm on Thursday. A police team led by John had searched the district committee office of the CPM in connection with a case on an attack on a police station.
On the previous day, a group had tried to trespass Medical College police station and tried to meet some accused in a sexual harassment case. Later, the same people had assembled near the police station, shouted slogans and pelted stones at the station building. Following the incident, a case under relevant sections of IPC and Prevention of Destruction to Public Properties Act was registered. Footage from CCTV near the station helped identify the attackers - four DYFI activists. Police had received information that the first accused, Nithin, was hiding at the CPM district committee office.
The inquiry report, prepared following instructions from the office of the chief minister, said there was no time for the cops to consult the higher officers before conducting a search based on the information received.
The report also pointed out that attack on a police station was a matter of serious concern and could not be taken lightly. Also, if the police fail to nab the attackers, it would have been considered as inefficiency of the force. Through the search, the DCP and team was putting in earnest efforts to arrest the attackers at the earliest, the report stated. If at all there was any lapse on the part of the officer, it should be considered only as the lack of experience in law and order matters, as she was recently promoted, it said.
A report by ADGP Manoj Abraham, submitted to state police chief Loknath Behera, has said that it has been found based on documentary evidence that the officer's act was bona fide and correct as per law, and all modalities of a search were followed in the case.
The incident that triggered the controversy took place at 11.45 pm on Thursday. A police team led by John had searched the district committee office of the CPM in connection with a case on an attack on a police station.
On the previous day, a group had tried to trespass Medical College police station and tried to meet some accused in a sexual harassment case. Later, the same people had assembled near the police station, shouted slogans and pelted stones at the station building. Following the incident, a case under relevant sections of IPC and Prevention of Destruction to Public Properties Act was registered. Footage from CCTV near the station helped identify the attackers - four DYFI activists. Police had received information that the first accused, Nithin, was hiding at the CPM district committee office.
The inquiry report, prepared following instructions from the office of the chief minister, said there was no time for the cops to consult the higher officers before conducting a search based on the information received.
The report also pointed out that attack on a police station was a matter of serious concern and could not be taken lightly. Also, if the police fail to nab the attackers, it would have been considered as inefficiency of the force. Through the search, the DCP and team was putting in earnest efforts to arrest the attackers at the earliest, the report stated. If at all there was any lapse on the part of the officer, it should be considered only as the lack of experience in law and order matters, as she was recently promoted, it said.
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