Woman officer to head probe team

Thrissur: The police have again reconstituted the probe team in the Wadakkanchery rape case, in the wake of fresh allegations. The probe team will now be headed by Palakkad ASP G Poonguzhali, instead of the Guruvayur ACP Sivadas, according to Thrissur range IG M R Ajith Kumar.
The Thrissur rural SP R Nishanthini and city police commissioner R Himendranath will supervise the probe and ADGP B Sandhya will be overall head of the investigation team, Ajith Kumar said.
Sivadas was on Thursday asked to head the probe team as there were allegations against Peramangalam CI M V Manikandan who had originally probed the case.
However, fresh criticism emerged that Sivadas too was involved in the earlier phase of investigation.
The IG said the Palakkad SP A Srinivas will probe the charges made against Permangalam CI Manikandan and other officers by the woman who has come out with the gang rape allegation. Ajith Kumar said the probe would cover if there were any lapses in the earlier investigation. Further action would be based on the probe report.