THURAVOOR(ERNAKULAM): An incident of road rage ended in the shocking death of a 24-year-old man, Ivin Jijo, allegedly at the hands of two Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel in Nayathode near Nedumbassery late on Wednesday.
The CISF personnel involved — sub-inspector Vinayakumar and constable Mohan Kumar, both natives of Bihar attached to the Kochi airport — have been arrested by the Nedumbassery police on charges of murder. Mohan is currently undergoing treatment for injuries suffered in the aftermath of the incident, police said.
The incident occurred around 11 pm when Ivin, a native of Thuravoor near Angamaly and a chef at a CAFS airline caterers in Nedumbassery, was reportedly hit by the car driven by the CISF personnel and dragged for nearly a kilometre while he was on the vehicle’s bonnet. After Ivin fell off the bonnet, he was dragged for almost another 50 metres.
According to preliminary police findings, the incident began with a minor road altercation between the two parties near the Government Higher Secondary School in Nayathode, around 8 km from the Kochi airport. The CISF personnel’s vehicle, which was driven by Mohan Kumar, was behind Ivin’s car and reportedly honked aggressively in an attempt to overtake. A minor collision ensued while they overtook Ivin. This led to a heated argument.
Eyewitnesses said after the initial altercation, Ivin attempted to confront the officials again. He began recording the confrontation on his phone, which appeared to have further rankled the CISF personnel. Standing in front of their vehicle, he sought an explanation for their conduct. It was then, witnesses claim, the duo accelerated the car, causing Ivin to fall on its bonnet, and drove off — dragging him for nearly a kilometre. As residents gathered, Vinayakumar fled. He was later nabbed by the police.
Elias, a resident who alerted the police, said: “The left side of Ivin’s body was crushed in the incident. We waited for an ambulance as we were afraid that moving him would worsen his condition.”
CISF officials booked on murder charges
Recounting the brutality, another witness, Jeevan, said: “One side of his body was severely injured. Parts of his shirt were torn off and stuck on the road.”
Ernakulam Rural Police Chief M Hemalatha said the CISF officials have been arrested for multiple charges, including murder. “The law applies equally to all. The suspects will not be granted any special privilege despite their position in a central force,” she said.
Police have also recovered CCTV footage and are awaiting forensic analysis of the officers’ blood samples to determine if they were under the influence of alcohol. The autopsy is over, and probe is under way.
The killing of Ivin has sparked widespread outrage in the area, raising urgent questions about the conduct, accountability, and oversight of armed personnel in civilian spaces. “The CISF men misused the power and privilege of their uniforms. While most CISF officers living in the area are peaceful, some are known for getting into altercations with local residents over minor disputes,” Jeevan alleged.
Duo suspended
The deputy inspector general of CISF suspended the two personnel reportedly involved in the incident. An internal inquiry by a senior CISF officer has been initiated, said a release issued by CISF
Hit, then dragged
Ivin was reportedly hit by the car driven by the CISF personnel and dragged for nearly a kilometre while he was on the vehicle’s bonnet. After Ivin fell off the bonnet, he was dragged for almost another 50 metres.