THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Journalist S V Pradeep was killed in an accident near Karakkamandapam in a hit and run case last evening. The police arrested the driver of the tipper lorry that hit journalist S V Pradeep leading to his death. Police summoning Vasantha Kumari, mother of the journalist, to the police station minutes after his death as part of the probe had stoked a controversy. The police forced her shattered by the unexpected death of her son, to reach Nemom station and give statement before Fort AC. Pradeep was the director of Bharath News Portal. Instead of recording her statement after reaching her house, they summoned her to the police station which is kilometres away from her abode.

The police has to record the statement of a close relative or a friend to file a case in all accidental and suicide cases. Her statement was required to register the FIR for a probe and other procedures. As the vehicle sped soon after hitting him and mystery shrouded, the police wanted all details of Pradeep. As his mother and wife knew all about him, the police decided to record the statement of one of them.

However, it was an inhumane act from the side of the police summoning the aged mother shattered after her son’s death to Nemom police station. This is not an isolated incident that happened in the case of Pradeep. Although every government has formulated and implemented major plans to make police people and popular friendly, one has to enter the verandahs of police stations for medico legal action after someone close to them dies unexpectedly in accidents or disasters.

Our police will have a popular face only if they are careful not to summon women and children to the police station and instead reach their homes and record statements. People are of the opinion that Janamaithri police station is only on board, they should have the kindness and the mentality to help people.