The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : CI should have consulted his superiors: report

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CI should have consulted his superiors: report

Staff Reporter

‘Night arrest’ of Supal

Thiruvananthapuram: The departmental inquiry into the controversial “night arrest” of ruling front leader Supal has concluded that the arresting officer should have consulted his superiors and taken more precautions to avoid consequent law and order problems. Circle Inspector, Anchal, A. Sugathan had arrested former Communist Party of India MLA Supal from his house in the early hours of July 2 on the charge of forcibly freeing detainees from Anchal station. The incident occurred on June 28 in connection with the elections to the director board of a Cooperative Bank at Edamon. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had presented its own panel of candidates against the panel presented by the CPI, which had allied with the Congress. The opposing parties tore ballot papers and traded charges of bogus voting. The police intervened and arrested 43 CPI(M) and 36 CPI and Congress workers. They were taken to different police stations to prevent further confrontation. The CPI(M) workers were remanded in judicial custody. According to the police, Mr. Supal along with 200 CPI workers entered Anchal station and forcibly freed the arrested Congress and CPI activists. The CPI initiated general strikes in two districts following Mr. Supal’s arrest. The inquiry report submitted by Inspector General of Police, Thiruvananthapuram Range, Arun Kumar Sinha, did not term the police action as illegal. The report pointed out that Mr. Sugathan should have taken sufficient precaution to prevent the forcible release of the workers. The officer should have considered the fact that the arrest of a former MLA could degrade the law and order situation in the region.

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