Police say cop's picture in Sabarimala violence album was a mistake

Police say cop's picture in Sabarimala violence album was a mistake
A clarification issued by the Kerala Police.

Kozhikode: The Kerala police owned up to a mistake in an 'album' containing images of likely suspects involved in violence in areas surrounding the Sabarimala temple. The faux pas is regarding the image of a cop in police uniform seen in the collage of images released by the police recently. 

In an official statement, the police said that the image number 167 in the collection of images is a policeman, named Ibrahim. He is a driver posted at the Pathanamthitta AR camp. Ibrahim was on duty at Sabarimala during the recent protests.

Senior BJP leader MT Ramesh had posted on his Facebook page on Thursday regarding the policeman, claiming that the 'album' released by the police was fake. He alleged that the police as well as the CPM workers were creating issues in Sabarimala and the photograph was a proof to it.

Reacting to it, the police explained that the album was not a lookout notice, but a list of suspects, sent to the district police chiefs to identify them and take necessary action.

There were also allegations that a party worker from an extremist political organisation was also part of the violence, wearing police uniform. However, the police also dismissed this allegation, saying that the said person was constable Ashik from KAP5.

Kerala Police had published the photographs of nearly 210 men, who were allegedly involved in violence at Pamba, Nilakkal and en route to Sabarimala. The mob was involved in destroying KSRTC buses, police vehicles and manhandling the journalists who covered the protest against women visiting the hill shrine in the wake of a recent Supreme Court order.

The apex court, in the landmark verdict, has lifted the ban on entry of women between the age group of 10-50 to the temple.

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