Slapped driver during vehicle inspection; police officer suspended after transfer

MALAPPURAM: A police officer has been suspended for assaulting a Canara Bank vehicle driver during a vehicle inspection. Police officer Naushad was suspended pending investigation for allegedly assaulting Paithiniparamba native Jaffer. The suspension followed a complaint that Jaffer personally lodged with the Superintendent of Police (SP).

Visuals of Naushad slapping Jaffer had widely circulated online. Following this, the officer reportedly took Jaffer to the police station and forced him to write a statement saying he had no complaints. Following the controversy, Naushad was initially transferred from Manjeri Traffic Station to the Malappuram Armed Forces unit before being suspended. The action was taken citing misconduct in public, abuse of authority, forcing the victim to state that he had no complaints, and tarnishing the reputation of the police force.

The incident occurred around noon yesterday. During the vehicle inspection, Jaffer was fined for not wearing a khaki uniform. The fine, initially set at Rs 250, appeared as Rs 500 on the printed receipt, leading Jaffer to question it. In response, Naushad allegedly slapped him. According to Jaffer’s complaint, the bank vehicle carrying cash was stopped on the road, and he was later taken to the police station and compelled to write that he had no complaint.