CM's promise goes in vain; 'Criminal' police officers to remain in service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police leadership overturned the Chief Minister's proposal to dismiss officers constantly engaging in criminal offences. The leadership stymied the process of dismissing 11 such officers from service. There are other 41 officers in the same section.

The CM’s proposal was toppled when police union and political leaders decided to shield these rogue officers. The departmental proceedings against them have also been frozen. This is mainly to save the police organization leader CI who is accused in an assault and forgery case in the High Court. With this, it is more or less sure that the rogue elements in the police will continue their reign in the law and order department.

It was the Kerala Kaumudi report “Criminal Thoppi” which made Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan give strict instructions to the DGP to use Section 86 of the Police Act to dismiss such criminal officers from service.

Those accused in serious criminal cases and having unholy nexus with gang mafias are on the dismissal list. Those in this list have committed crimes such as harassment of women and children, sexual abuse, death in custody, dowry abuse, abuse of official position, failure in investigation, fabrication of evidence, breach of discipline, and moral degradation. Even if not found guilty by the court, the officer who indulges in repeated rogue conduct can be dismissed.

The chief minister had earlier suggested that troublemakers should be fired regardless of their rank. The DGP has been instructed that there should be no criminals in the police, strict action should be taken and there should be no more complaints.

Following this, steps were taken to strengthen the secret intelligence to find the criminals in the police. There were also plans to start a meeting of the special branch officers every week and to form an internal investigation committee but nothing materialized. However, the officials in the department cited procedural delay to have caused the wait and denied any attempts to protect these rogue officers.

25 policemen were dismissed in 7 years. Two DYSPs are also on the list for dismissal.