Kerala CM faces flak for police brutality

Already facing flak for the solar scam, Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy's embarrassment has become all the more acute as the police were seen attacking an Opposition protestor.

Already facing flak for the solar scam, Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy's embarrassment has become all the more acute as the police were seen attacking an Opposition protestor.

A policeman on Wednesday allegedly attacked a CPI-M youth wing protester who was waving a black flag at the chief minister. The incident occurred near Anayari on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, where the chief minister had come to inaugurate a function. A group of Democratic Youth Federation of India activists had gathered near the spot to stage a black flag protest against the chief minister over the solar panel scam.

Eyewitnesses said one of the protesters was surrounded by the policemen and beaten up after he jumped before the chief minister’s cavalcade. A sub-inspector was allegedly seen repeatedly assaulting his private parts even as his other colleagues held him tight. The injured man collapsed on the spot and was admitted to the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram.

The incident has sparked an outrage with even the Congressmen flaying the police action.

Home minister T Radhakrishnan told the Hindustan Times that the accused sub-inspector has been placed under suspension and a probe is on. "A high-level inquiry has been ordered into the incident and necessary action will be taken after we get the inquiry report," the home minister said.