Amidst raging criticism against the police following the alleged partisan action in a case in which a woman student was allegedly attacked by a Students Federation of India (SFI) leader, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy.SP) has now been entrusted with the probe.
Officials sources said Nandakumar, Dy.SP in Pathanamthitta, will now lead the investigation. He replaces Aranmula Station House Officer Manoj, who drew widespread criticisms for his alleged interventions in favour of the accused.
The issue had drawn attention after the police allegedly dragged its feet against registering a case against the SFI leader despite receiving a complaint. Following this, the complainant, student of a law college near here, and activists of the Kerala Students Union staged a protest at the Aranmula police station. Though the police had recorded her statement, no case was registered.
Following the protests, the police finally agreed to book a case on the complaint. It, however, also booked two cases against the complainant — one for staging the protest and another for allegedly hurling casteist abuse at a fellow student.
When contacted, officers explained that cases invoking sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act should be probed by an officer not ranked less than a Dy.SP and hence Mr. Nandakumar was directed to probe the case.
