Accused policemen should've been suspended two years ago, will continue the strike until officers are fired, says VD Satheesan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition Leader VD Satheesan has responded to the incident where a Youth Congress leader was physically assaulted by policemen at the Kunnamkulam police station. Satheesan said that the opposition will not accept the government's move to protect the officers by merely suspending four policemen. He said that the action taken against the policemen can be seen only as a small action, and that too should have been taken two years ago.

"The government is trying to protect the cruel officers, who led the custodial torture, by merely suspending four policemen. We won't accept it. This step can only be seen as a small step. Moreover, they should've taken this action two years ago," Satheesan said.

The government is trying to protect the policemen even after the footage of the brutal assault came out. For whom is the government protecting the police driver who brutally assaulted Sujith? The opposition is demanding that the government dismiss all five criminals, who brutally assaulted the youth, from service and take legal action against them. UDF will continue its strike until the cruel officers are fired," he said.

Meanwhile, four policemen have been suspended from service in connection with the Kunnamkulam custodial torture incident. The action was taken based on the recommendation from Thrissur Range DIG. The State Police Chief had also received legal advice that departmental action could continue against the accused officers. The suspended officers are SI Nuhman, CPOs Saseendran, Sandeep and Sajeevan. Another accused officer, Shuhair, is currently working in the Local Self-Government Department. Hence, it is not possible to take departmental action against him. The court had earlier registered a criminal case against the four accused policemen.