KOTTAYAM: Anti-social activities are growing in numbers while it seems the days of anarchy are not far away in the state. The crime rates are horrifyingly high that even police officials are not spared. A policeman who tried to intervene in a dispute between roadside eatery dealers was kicked to death in the melee.

The incident took place in front of a roadside eatery near a bar hotel in Thellakom on early Monday morning. Manjoor native Shyam Prasad (44), driver of Kottayam West Station SHO, died in the incident. Perumbaikad native Jibin George (27), a history-sheeter even accused in murder cases, was arrested in the incident.

After his duty in Kudamaloor church, Shyam was on his way home when he decided to stop at the eatery.

There happened a dispute between Sally and Prakashan, two owners of separate roadside eateries in the region. Jibin, a friend of Prakashan, intervened in the issue and threatened Sally to move her shop to some other place. Amidst this ruckus, police officer Shyam walked in unaware of the development.

Seeing Shyam in police uniform, Sally commented that the police were there to arrest Jibin. Incensed by the whole issue, Jibin thrashed Sally and her brother in all public glare. Shyam tried to stop Jibin, but the accused pushed him to the ground and repeatedly stomped on his chest.

A team led by Kumarakom SHO KS Shiji, on patrol duty, saw the incident and stopped the vehicle. Shyam, who was lying on the road injured, collapsed while being shifted to a private hospital. By morning, the policeman succumbed to his injuries.

The accused who tried to escape was bravely subdued by the police. The post-mortem report stated that the cause of death was internal bleeding due to a kick to the chest. Shyam, a former KSRTC driver, joined the police force in 2020.

He is the son of the late Krishnankutty and Janaki. Wife: Ambili (private hotel employee). Children: School students Sreelakshmi, Sreehari and Sethulakshmi.

The body was placed at Kottayam Police Club and West Station for the public to pay homage and was later cremated in house premises. The police suspect that Prakashan gave a quotation to evacuate Sally's shop from the area.

Meanwhile, there are also allegations about police failing to charge KAAPA against Jibin, a frequent drug addict and accused in several criminal cases. Seven cases are pending against him.