Brothers arrested for clashing with police

Kochi: High drama prevailed under Ernakulam North overbridge at 5.45pm on Saturday when two siblings clashed with police, leaving at least two police officers injured.Police arrested the accused, Prince J, 29, and his brother Ginto J, 27, hailing from Kaithachira, Mannarkkad, Palakkad. Police officers were assaulted by the duo for questioning them under suspicious circumstances. The incident involved Ernakulam North station SI Gladwin Edward, 36, and CPO R Manikandan, 38, both of whom sustained injuries to their hands.The accused claimed to have come to Kochi in search of work and were sitting under the bridge.According to police, Edward had noticed them when passing by in a jeep and advised the brothers that the location was not safe and warned them not to sit there. They assured police they would leave, prompting the police team to depart. However, upon returning 15 minutes later for another matter, the officers found the brothers at the location.Officers then approached them and asked them to reveal their identities. The accused, however, refused. Police in turn told them that they will have to accompany them to police station to verify their identities if they are refusing to share their names and details. In response, the accused became agitated and verbally abused the offices, challenging them to take them to the station if they can, says the FIR against the accused.Manikandan, who was driving the police jeep, tried to make them enter the vehicle, and the accused resisted. The accused then grabbed the sub-inspector's shirt and twisted his arm. He was also hit on the back using the blunt side of a mobile phone. Ginto then hurled the mobile phone at Manikandan, who tried to intervene.During the scuffle, right-side mirror of the jeep was broken. The brothers attempted to use shards from the broken mirror against police, but the officers managed to subdue them. Injuries to SI and CPO were caused by glass shards.Police reported that the accused also damaged the wireless antenna. The brothers were presented in court and remanded in judicial custody. Police said Ginto is also an accused in multiple cases.Police said investigations are ongoing to determine the purpose of their visit to Kochi. The accused were booked under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Kerala Police Act and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.