Fort Kochi ‘police excess’: 3 cops transferred

KOCHI: City police on Wednesday transferred three police officers from Fort Kochi police station to other stations in the city following allegation that the policemen assaulted a group of youths while enforcing Covid-19 protocol.
According to sources, SI C R Singh and civil police officers Sunil Kumar and Gireesh were transferred. Additional commissioner for Kochi city K P Philip issued the order transferring them to Thoppumpady, North and Elamakkara stations respectively, said sources.Mulavukad SI K P Manesh would be posted at Fort Kochi in place of Singh.
According to sources, the transfer was based on a report by Fort Kochi station house officer G B Manuraj and Mattancherry assistant commissioner G D Vijayakumar.
The issue pertains to policemen using force to disperse the youths who had gathered at a ground at Fort Kochi, reportedly to play cricket. Five youths got admitted to hospitals after the police action, leading to allegation of police excess and subsequent public uproar against the police.
Police officers have however shot down the allegations claiming that they were only using reasonable force, and the area where the action took place was a usual hangout spot for anti-social elements. Though the youths claimed that they were brutally thrashed, police attribute the injuries to fall during their attempt to flee from police.