KOCHI: Even during the hectic duty schedule of a civil police officer, Ajeesh Paul, who sustained severe head injuries in a brutal attack by a youth with a stone during Covid-19 lockdown checking, used to help orphans and the destitute. He has been not letting the left hand know what the right hand does, literally.
As reports come in that the health condition of Ajeesh, who is under treatment at a private hospital in Kochi, has improved, they are all praying for his speedy recovery. The 38-year-old officer, a native of Chilavu in Thodupuzha, is yet to regain his memory which he lost following the attack.
“He used to donate rice and other items to Assisi Snehabhavan, an orphanage at Moolamattam, while working at Kulamavu police station and he had sponsored the day’s food for about 100 inmates on several occasions. Besides, during Onam, Christmas and other important days, he offered food to them. But he concealed this from everybody. That is his nature,” said Arun Rajan, a civil police officer.
Even on the day before the incident, Ajeesh called Arun, shared matters related to the duty and his wish to get a transfer to any of the police stations in the plains. “He enjoyed working at Marayur but wished to get a chance during the general transfer this year,” Arun added. Ajeesh was posted at Marayoor police station in 2015.
“He was shifted to the room from the ventilator support on Wednesday. He recognised one of our officers and called her ‘Madam’ when we communicated with him via a video call. The doctors said it is a positive sign and that he will come back to normal life soon,” said Aby M C, Sub Inspector, Marayur police station.
Ajeesh is the younger son of Paul Varghese and Achamma. His elder brother, Sajeev, is at the hospital.
When questioned for not wearing a face mask, Sulaiman, a native of Kovilkadavu, started abusing the police officers and took a stone and attacked Station House Officer C R Ratheesh. Seeing this, Ajeesh rushed to the spot but Sulaiman pounced on him as well and hit him with the stone. The police team was conducting a routine check as part of enforcing Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in Marayoor town on June 1.
“We never expected such a brutal attack from that person who was booked in an abkari case but released from jail. The checking was intended to prevent unnecessary gatherings as part of the fight against the pandemic,” said Aby. Ajeesh was admitted to Rajagiri Hospital with severe head injuries, including a skull fracture and intracranial hemorrhage, on the day itself. He underwent an emergency surgery and had been on ventilator support.