The Hindu : Probe ordered into 'assault' on push-cart vendor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 26, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Probe ordered into 'assault' on push-cart vendor

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Oct. 25. The Lok Ayukta has asked the Rural S.P. to conduct an inquiry into the allegation that the Principal Sub Inspector, Kazhakkuttom, Saifuddin, had assaulted a push-cart vendor, G. Sasidharan, and deprived him of his means of livelihood in violation of natural justice.

The directive was issued on the basis of a report submitted by the court's own inquiry officer into Sasidharan's complaint. The report had said that Sasidharan had not committed any offence for the police to take any action against him. It had also recommended stringent action against the accused official.

The report had further said that the official, who was bound by law to protect the life and property of the people in his jurisdiction, had violated natural justice and thereby committed a grave offence.

Sasidharan was running a "thattukada'' in Panangottukonam Lane on the Powdikkonam-Keraladithyapuram Road. According to the complaint, on June 16, a group of policemen led by Mr. Saifuddin went to the spot and fell upon him, asking for one Manikandan.

Ignoring Sasidharan's protests, the policemen allegedly thrashed him in full view of those who had gathered there and kicked him with booted feet when he fell down. Mr. Saifuddin allegedly boxed Sasidharan on the ears several times, as a result of which his teeth came loose.

Following this, the policemen broke up Sasidharan's push-cart and flung his utensils on the road. "Let us see you run your `thattukada' here again,'' one of them threatened. Sasidharan said the onlookers had got him admitted to the Casualty wing of the Medical College Hospital, from where he was discharged the same night after treatment.

Sasidharan said he had submitted complaints to the Chief Minister, the DGP, the District Collector, the Rural S.P., and the Circle Inspector, Kazhakkuttom, but no action was taken against the accused official.

The complainant said incident had left him physically and mentally shattered and that he had approached the Lok Ayukta as a last resort in search of justice.

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