From "rescue operation" to court accused: SIT indicts former CM's gunmen in assault of MLA, youth leader

ALAPPUZHA: In a significant development in the 2023 assault case involving Youth Congress leaders, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has formally named five police officers—including the personal security staff of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan—as accused.
The SIT submitted its report to the Alappuzha Magistrate Court, identifying the accused as former CM's gunman Anil Kumar, security officer Sandeep, and police personnel Shaiju, Arun, and Vipin. According to the investigation team, the findings are heavily supported by eyewitness testimonies and video footage of the incident. While specific penal charges are yet to be framed, the SIT report highlights that the officers committed grave violations of protocol. A separate report is being forwarded to the Director General of Police (DGP) recommending strict departmental action.

The case dates back to December 2023 during the government's statewide 'Navakerala Sadas' campaign. Security personnel Anil Kumar and Sandeep reportedly alighted from the Chief Minister's escort convoy and severely assaulted Youth Congress leaders A.D. Thomas (who has since been elected as an MLA) and Youth Congress State Secretary Ajay Jewel Kuriakose.

The incident sparked intense political controversy after then-Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan defended his security detail, famously characterising the assault as a "rescue operation" meant to protect the convoy. Following alleged police reluctance to register a case initially, the injured Youth Congress leaders moved the court to secure a judicial order for an investigation.

The SIT's report follows a string of controversies surrounding the probe. Earlier testimonies suggested that a high-ranking Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) had actively attempted to derail the investigation. Furthermore, a prior report by Superintendent of Police (SP) Chaitra Teresa John, which strongly recommended punitive action against the gunmen, was allegedly suppressed by the Home Department. Shortly after submitting her findings, SP Chaitra was transferred to Kollam, drawing sharp criticism from opposition factions regarding institutional accountability.