THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Close on the heels of the alleged police torture of a youth at Edathala in Ernakulam district, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has ordered the government to take immediate action against all police officers whose names figure in criminal cases in the state.
The SHRC sought the government to immediately inform it about the details of ‘criminals’ in the force. This is the SHRC’s second order in two months. The government is yet to take any action after the first order sent in April.
The Home Department had recently found that a total of 1,129 police officers were named as accused in criminal cases, the SHRC said. It also ordered the government to invoke section 86 of the Kerala Police Act against the accused officers. SHRC acting chairman P Mohanadas has also sought the Home Secretary and DGP to submit a report in this regard within 30 days.
As per section 86(1) of the Kerala Police Act, the police personnel involved in criminal cases should be suspended from service. The rule also stipulates that the officers should be dismissed from service if found to be guilty.Mohanadas criticised top cops for not taking action as per rules against the 1,129 accused officers. The SHRC urged the police to replace the accused at the earliest.
The SHRC also registered a suo motu case based on an RTI reply obtained by lawyer D B Binu. According to the reply, 250 police officers involved in criminal cases are in Thiruvananthapuram, a revelation that the SHRC termed “shocking”.A panel to identify criminals in the police force was set up by the Police Department in 2011 following a High Court order. In Thiruvananthapuram, as many as 230 SI, 46 CIs and 10 DySPs were found to be involved in criminal cases.
Probe into custodial torture
The SHRC has registered a suo motu case on the custodial torture of Aluva native Usman by police personnel in civvies and ordered Aluva Rural SP to render an explanation within three weeks. Mohanadas directed the SP to institute an officer not below the rank of DySP to probe the incident. If the cops are found guilty, strict action should be initiated, including action under the relevant sections of the Kerala Police Act, he said. The case will be considered in a hearing to be held in Kochi on June 29.