THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an apparent bid to absorb the shock of the Cheriyathura violence, the state government on Friday shifted Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner S Gopinath from the post and placed four police officers under suspension.
The Cabinet which met here on Friday also decided to order a judicial probe into the Cheriyathura violence. Gopinath has been posted as DIG (Administration) in Police Headquarters.
Kollam SP M R Ajith Kumar has been posted as the new Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner.
Though the Home Minister’s office is silent on the reasons for shifting Gopinath, the alleged lapses on part of the Commissioner in handling the Cheriyathura incident is the obvious reason for his removal, sources in the Police Department said.
Overlooking the inquiry report of DGP Jacob Punnoose justifying the police firing at Cheriyathura, the Cabinet decided to suspend Shangumugham AC Suresh Kumar, DCRB AC E Sharafuddin, Poonthura CI K Pradeep Kumar and Valiyathura SI Johnson. They have been charged with mishandling the tension which had led to the police firing. Thiruvananthapuram-range IG Vinson M Paul and DCP (Law and Order) in Thiruvananthapuram A V George, who were also in charge of security in Cheriyathura, were also transferred and posted as Ernakulam Range IG and SP SBCID in Ernakulam respectively. The two were posted in Thiruvananthapuram in connection with the general elections.