KOCHI: The family members of Usman, who was allegedly manhandled by Edathala police, has come out against the ‘extremist’ remark made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Assembly.
“Are all those who sport beard terrorists?” asked Febina, wife of Usman. “I have been living with him for the past 12 years and have not found any extremist activities by him. Then, how can the Chief Minister cite extremism which I have not known,” she asked the media persons here on Thursday.
Usman’s mother Fathima said police have assaulted her son who was struggling to get both ends meet.
An accused in the Kalamassery bus burning case was taken as an example for presence of ‘anti-social’ elements among the protesters, Usman’s family refuted the claim and said Ismail was a close relative.
“Ismail Usman’s uncle’s son. Why wouldn’t he come to our aid when we are aggrieved? Also, if they are terming the association with Abdul Nasser Madani as the terrorist link, then we all know who shared a stage with Madani,” said Siddique, Usman’s brother.
CB DySP will probe
Meanwhile, Ernakulam Rural District Crime Branch DySP Udhayabhanu K S will takeover the investigation in connection with the incidents at Edathala on Tuesday evening that led to allegations of police atrocity. Besides the two separate cases registered against Usman and the four police officers, violence during a protest march held following the arrest of Usman is also being investigated, said, police officers. The presence of suspended ASI Induchudan is also being investigated.
With a woman police officer Jertina Francis sustaining injuries during the protest following the arrest of Usman, police officers added that they are also probing into the presence of anti-social elements in the march. Meanwhile, the police are looking to CCTV footage from Kunchattukara where the incident happened.