SPC seeks report on Congress leader’s entry into Adoor police station to confront accused

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Taking serious note of the incident where Congress leader Sreenadevi Kunjamma allegedly trespassed into the Adoor police station and spoke with an accused person inside the lock-up, State Police Chief (SPC) Ravada A. Chandrasekhar has sought a detailed report from the Pathanamthitta Superintendent of Police (SP).

The SPC has sought clarification on the circumstances that led to clashes outside the station and how the leader was permitted access to the lock-up inmate. The intervention comes on the heels of CCTV footage of the July 11 incident surfacing in the public domain.”We have no issues with elected representatives visiting the police station. But, if any breach of protocol is found in this case, action will be initiated,” Mr. Chandrasekhar told the media on Sunday.

District Police Chief R. Anand, in turn, has directed a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP)-level probe, which will also examine whether local police personnel extended tacit support to the group or failed to prevent the breach.

The inquiry pertains to the ruckus that broke out at the Adoor police station when YouTuber Rajan Joseph was brought in following his arrest from Ernakulam. Mr. Joseph had been taken into custody based on a complaint alleging he circulated defamatory videos targeting Ms. Kunjamma on social media.

CCTV visuals of the episode captured tense scenes as several Youth Congress workers, led by local leader Feni Nainan, intercepted the police jeep, attempted to target Mr. Joseph, and forced their way into the station premises. At one point, Ms. Kunjamma, currently an elected member of the Pathanamthitta district panchayat, is seen directly confronting Mr. Joseph inside the lock-up.

Following the incident, the Adoor police registered a case against 20 people in connection with the assault, in which at least one police officer sustained injuries. However, the police allegedly failed to take further action or identify the accused, triggering accusations of political high-handedness.

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