R Sreelekha, deputy mayor arraigned in case over clash in BJP’s Vattiyoorkavu station march 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former DGP and Sasthamangalam ward councilor R Sreelekha has been named as accused in connection with the clash during the BJP’s Vattiyoorkavu police station march. She had inaugurated the protest during which the clash occurred. Deputy Mayor R Asha Nath has also been arraigned.

Cases were registered against five councilors earlier. The action comes amid controversy over not filing a case against the former DGP. Sreelekha is the fifth accused in the case and Asha Nath, the sixth. The police submitted a special report in this regard.

Sreelekha’s slogan ‘poda pulle police’ (a derogatory slogan against the police) had also sparked major controversy. She raised this slogan during a Mahila Morcha march to the Vattiyoorkavu police station, protesting alleged police brutality. The protest was triggered by the alleged custodial assault of party workers in Nettayam.

The march demanded action against the police officers accused in the incident. BJP workers arrested during a recent BJP–CPM clash in Nettayam were allegedly beaten by the police.

Sreelekha had demanded action against the officers and warned that if police action was delayed, she would personally protest and stage a sit-in. She had informed the Thiruvananthapuram Police Commissioner and the DGP about this. The police station march and protest followed. After the slogan controversy, Sreelekha also posted on Facebook explaining the circumstances that led her, a retired DGP, to raise slogans against the police.