ED case accused joining Onam celebrations at Museum station, serious police lapses flagged

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police personnel were found to have committed serious lapses by allowing accused in the case of assaulting Enforcement Directorate officials to participate in the Onam celebrations at the Museum police station, according to a report submitted by the City Police Commissioner.

The Station House Officer and other police personnel should have made the accused leave immediately after arriving at the station and signing the register, the report said. The accused also used the swing and chenda that had been arranged at the station as part of the Onam celebrations, which the police personnel failed to prevent.

City Police Commissioner Dr Arul B Krishna handed over the report to the South Zone Inspector General. The report recommended a detailed investigation to ascertain whether the accused had received any assistance from any police officer.
The Commissioner submitted the report based on an investigation report prepared by the Special Branch. The Special Branch report had also pointed to serious lapses on the part of personnel at the Museum station in connection with the incident.

No clothes bought for accused

The report stated that the police had not bought clothes for the accused. A total of 68 shirts were purchased for the Museum station from a textile shop in Palayam. The shirts and the list of police personnel were examined.
Although the shirt worn by I.P. Binu and those worn by the police personnel were blue, they were different from each other, the report said.

Reels shot while SHO was at station

The accused were present at the station when SHO R. Prashanth arrived. The SHO spoke to accused Unnikrishnan in front of the station and to I.P. Binu inside the station. The conversations were regarding the case.
The report also stated that the accused filmed the remaining portions of their reels outside the station while the SHO was present inside.