'Police not obeying Home Minister'; LoP Pinarayi Vijayan in assembly

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala admitted that there was a lapse on the part of the police in the Cheranalloor vehicle accident case. He asserted that the guilty would not be shielded, emphasising that the law applies equally to everyone—regardless of whose son an individual might be. In response, Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan retorted that the public has lost faith in the police. This exchange occurred during the consideration of an adjournment motion moved by A.C. Moideen regarding the lapses by the police.

Pinarayi alleged that the police are not obeying the Home Minister. He claimed that the police treat the wealthy and the influential differently from the poor. Pinarayi pointed out that even after the Home Minister had explicitly instructed that students should not be struck on the head during protests, such actions continue. In his speech delivered before staging a walkout, Pinarayi urged that the violent tendencies within the police force be brought under control.

Chennithala said he is not hesitant to admit that police failed in the Cheranalloor case, which led to the accused being granted bail. It is deplorable that the accused was granted bail even before the cremation of a poor individual who died in the accident. Chennithala mentioned that he had contacted the DGP to ask on what basis charges that allow for bail were applied. Chennithala further added that the government is under no obligation to blindly justify the mistakes of the police.

Chennithala stated that strict action would be taken—without any bias—against the police officers who destroyed the footage on the phone, as well as those who failed to include key sections in the FIR. Subsequently, the opposition staged a walkout in protest against the denial of permission for a discussion.