Cop assaults SFI leader in Kerala, arrested

The action was taken by Deputy Inspector General Neeraj Kumar Gupta just hours after a video of the sub-inspector assaulting the SFI leader went viral and was broadcast on all TV channels.

Image Credit: ANI; Representational purpose only

Kochi: Kerala police on Saturday suspended one of its sub-inspectors for physically assaulting a local leader of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) at Kothamangalam police station in the Ernakulam district of the state earlier in the day. Deputy Inspector General Neeraj Kumar Gupta took action hours after a video of the sub-inspector assaulting the SFI leader went viral and was aired on all TV channels. The DIG in his order said according to a report received from the District Police Chief of Ernakulam Rural, prima facie it is revealed that the sub-inspector (SI) -- Mahin Salim -- "while working in the Kothamangalam police station had committed grave misconduct, indiscipline, misuse of official powers and gross violation of directions of the state government and State Police Chief" by physically assaulting the SFI leader.

The order further said that the allegations against the SI "tarnished the reputation of the police among the public" and therefore, it warranted stringent departmental action."As such, Mahin Salim SI is placed under suspension with immediate effect," it said. Besides that, a detailed oral enquiry was also ordered against the officer for "his alleged delinquencies" and the Deputy Superintendent of Police, District Crime Records Bureau, Ernakulam would be the enquiry officer, the order said. The enquiry officer has to submit his report within three months, it added. The SFI leader Roshan later told a TV channel that he and his friends went to the station to find out why one of them was taken into custody by the police.