Crime Branch to investigate Pathanamthitta police assault

PATHANAMTHITTA: The investigation into the police assault on a group of people who attended a wedding party in Pathanamthitta has been transferred to the Crime Branch. This decision follows an incident where police officers allegedly attacked a group of women returning from a wedding reception, injuring several individuals. The assault occurred late at night on February 4, in front of a bar at Aban Junction, where the victims had briefly stopped. Pathanamthitta Crime Branch DySP K.A. Vidyadharan is leading the investigation.

The incident took place in front of a bar at Aban Junction, Pathanamthitta, at 11.15 pm on the 4th of February. Those who had returned from a relative's wedding reception at Ezhammile, Bharanikkavu in Kollam were surrounded and beaten without questioning, under the leadership of Pathanamthitta SI J.U. Janu, who had arrived at Mufti.

Sreejith (33), his wife Sitharamol (31), and his sister-in-law Shijin (35) were injured at Thulapally in Erumely. After CCTV footage of the SI and his team running from the jeep and attacking the family came out, DIG Ajitha Begum suspended Jinu, CPOs Jobin Joseph and Ashfaq.

The police explained that they came and mistakenly beat them up after thinking they were the people who created trouble in the bar, which the employees of the bar complained about to them. A case has been registered against ten people who are known by sight. Two FIRs have been registered. There were discrepancies about the time written in the FIR in the incident of attacking the family. The police did not accept the family's demand to include the Scheduled Castes Protection Department in this case.

The family who was beaten up said that the Chief Minister's statement in the Assembly that they had come to the bar and created trouble hurt them. Sitharamol, who was beaten up, said that the Pathanamthitta police, who investigated the case, gave a false report to the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister's remark trivialises the brutal beating by the police. A complaint will be filed with the Chief Minister against this.