It is usually said that law and order should be maintained at any cost. However, a young IPS officer in Thiruvananthapuram is currently facing a lot of backlash for trying to maintain the law and order. Chaithra Theresa John was removed from the deputy commissioner post and a departmental probe is set to be investigated against her, causing serious repercussion in the political circle.

When we look into the matter in detail, we can see the hypocrisy behind this issue. DCP raided the office as she had received information that accused in connection with the case of pelting stones at the police station, are hiding in CPM office. There is an unwritten law that police should not enter party offices, therefore this should not surprise anyone.

However, DCP had come for raid with proper warrant. They could not arrest anyone though.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Chaitra Teresa John last week searched the district office of Communist Party of India-Marxist here in connection with a stone throwing case at a police station in which youth cadres of the Left party were involved.

She had raided the office on a tip-off that those involved were in the CPI-M district office. However, she could not find anyone there.

Soon after the search operation, Vijayan, who also holds the Home portfolio, summoned John. She was removed from the post of DCP.

This prompted the Congress-led opposition to slam Vijayan for not appreciating the boldness of the young officer and removing her, especially when the Chief Minister was always speaking about gender justice.

Earlier in the day, Additional District General of Police Manoj Abraham, who probed John's action, submitted a report to Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra, giving John a clean chit.

She had followed all the required protocol before conducting such an operation, the report said.

The CPI-M leadership here has been upset with John after she took a strong stand against eight state government employees belonging to a Left union, who have since been in jail for vandalising a State Bank of India branch here on January 9, during a nationwide strike.

The issue though has come to rest as she returned to the post of Superintendent of Police (Women's Cell). When police lose their calm, people usually react. Just like that, when an injustice is being done towards a police officer, the public may react to it. Since, this is a democratic country, such responses will be usual. Police officers who take brave decisions are setting an example for the country. When someone commits a crime, action should be taken immediately without looking at their party.