Police defend firing during BJP councillor’s arrest

Thiruvananthapuram: A day after dramatic scenes at Vattiyoorkavu, where police fired warning shots during the arrest of BJP councillor R Sugathan, city police commissioner K Karthik on Wednesday defended the operation, saying officers were compelled to act after supporters attacked personnel and obstructed police action. “The police fired into the air after Sugathan’s supporters and party workers created a law-and-order situation at the spot. The investigation is continuing by ACP,” Karthik said.Sugathan represents Vazhottukonam ward in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation. He is the prime accused in an assault case linked to a temple festival clash at Vellaikadavu on March 23, in which a CPM worker was attacked with deadly weapons and sustained serious injuries. Police alleged the violence erupted from a dispute between BJP and CPM workers during a devotional music programme at the venue. Sugathan was named the first accused in the case and had been absconding since the incident.He moved the high court for anticipatory bail, but the court rejected his plea and directed him to appear before the investigating officer on June 7. He failed to comply with the direction and continued to remain absconding. A detention order under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) had also been issued against him by the district collector, who concluded that his activities posed a threat to public order. Police sources said he has been named in seven criminal cases over the past eight years, including cases registered after he became a councillor. Officials noted that he continued to engage in criminal activities despite repeated warnings.Acting on information that Sugathan was at his residence, officers reached the house on Tuesday night to execute the detention order. According to police, he resisted arrest and his supporters gathered outside, obstructing the operation and attacking officers. Warning shots were fired into the air to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control before the arrest could be completed. Several officers, including Vattiyoorkavu SHO Vipin AC, sustained injuries in the confrontation.Sugathan was subsequently shifted to central jail after being remanded to judicial custody. Police also registered a fresh case against him for allegedly attacking officers and obstructing them from discharging official duties during the arrest operation.Sugathan’s wife Aswathy, however, alleged that police entered their residence without a woman officer and assaulted her when she questioned their presence. She also alleged that officers assaulted their 14-year-old son and frightened the children during the operation. “They came into the house and pushed me when I questioned why they had entered. I was slapped on my face and kicked on my back,” she said.The commissioner said allegations of police excess would be investigated and that further action against Sugathan could follow depending on the findings of the ongoing probe.