The Kerala High Court has issued notice to five police officers accused of assaulting Youth Congress and Kerala Students Union (KSU) functionaries during a protest in Alappuzha against the Nava Kerala Sadas (NKS) yatra conducted by the previous LDF-led government. The notice was issued in a petition filed by the state government seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to them by a sessions court.
Court Proceedings
Justice C S Dias directed the accused police officers — former Chief Minister’s gunman S Anil Kumar, S Sandeep, V K Saiju, R Arun, and V V Vipin — to file their replies to the petition by June 20 and adjourned the matter for further consideration.
Allegations of Assault
According to the prosecution, during the NKS programme in Alappuzha, two leaders — A D Thomas, now an MLA, and Ajay Juel Kuriakose — were allegedly assaulted with lathis by members of the escort and security team attached to the then Chief Minister after they had been restrained by local police personnel. On June 9, the principal sessions court in Alappuzha granted anticipatory bail to the five officers in connection with a case registered at the Alappuzha South police station regarding the alleged attack.
State Government's Submission
The state government submitted that the weapons allegedly used in the attack have not yet been recovered and that the investigation into their source, procurement, possession, transportation, and concealment is continuing. Therefore, the custodial interrogation of the accused is necessary. The government further submitted that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been constituted to conduct a detailed probe into the incident pursuant to a magistrate court’s direction for further investigation after it rejected the police reference report. It was also contended that the grant of anticipatory bail to the accused officers would adversely affect the investigation.
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