KOCHI: Two persons were arrested on Monday for allegedly assaulting an Army officer at a camp held for NCC cadets at KMM College, Thrikkakara, here last week, police said.
The accused have been identified as Nishad, a native of Fort Kochi and Navas, of Palluruthi here, Kochi city police said.
The duo allegedly assaulted Lieutenant Colonel Karneyil Singh, Administrative Officer of the 21 Kerala NCC Battalion, at an NCC cadet camp held at KMM College.
According to a top police official, the accused were taken into custody from their residences and and their arrest was recorded after the NCC officials identified them.
Earlier, the Thrikkakara police had registered an FIR against two individuals for allegedly assaulting the Army officer.
The case was registered following a complaint from the officer, police said.
The incident occurred amidst tensions after over 60 cadets reportedly suffered from suspected food poisoning on the night of December 23.
The accused were only named as "two identifiable persons", after trespassing into the college hosting the camp, stopped, threatened, and then attacked Lieutenant Colonel Karneyil Singh, camp commandant, around 11.30 pm, the FIR dated December 24 said.
The first accused allegedly stabbed the officer with a sharpened object on his cheek, neck, and back, obstructing him in the discharge of official responsibilities, the FIR added.
The attack occurred while the officer was serving as Camp Commandant of the Combined Annual Training Camp (CATC), organised by the 21 Kerala Battalion NCC at the college.
The accused were charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 329(3) (criminal trespass), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt).
Other charges include 118(1) (causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous means), 121(1) (dissuading a public servant from duty by causing hurt), and 3(5) (criminal acts committed with common intention).