Kozhikode: Amid the criticism on the poor law and order situation in the northern districts of Kerala followed by the hartal called by BJP-supported Sabarimala Karma Samithi, one more major revamp has taken place among the top cops. Kozhikode city police commissioner S Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar will be replaced by headquarters DIG K Sanjay Kumar Gurudin. Meanwhile, Kozhikode city deputy commissioner KM Tomy has been promoted and posted as district police chief, Alappuzha.

From Alappuzha, S Surendran, who is also DIG, Intelligence, has been transferred to Thiruvananthapuram as DIG and city commissioner. P Prakash, who was the commissioner in Thiruvananthapuram city, will be DIG, Armed Battalion. Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau (VACB) SP James Joseph would be taking charge as deputy commissioner, Kozhikode city.

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There was widespread criticism against the way in which Kozhikode city police dealt with the Hindutva wing protesters during the recent hartal, after two women below the age of 50 entered Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple. One of the officers even wrote on the Facebook, vehemently criticising the way in which police was deployed in areas like SM street, where traders came out to open shops, defying hartal and ample protection could not be given. The protesters could not be blocked from entering the street. Many cops, including women police, were injured in the clashes.

An officer of the 2005 batch, Sanjay Kumar was recently promoted as DIG and posted in police headquarters, Thiruvananthapuram. However, known as an expert in tackling law and order, traffic and cyber safety issues, he was shifted within a week to Kozhikode city as police chief, when the city was in turmoil followed by the hartal. With Lok Sabha elections round the corner, and frequent political clashes in the city, his posting would be a face saver for the government.

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Prior to his posting in headquarters, he was commandant in KAP 4 and district police chief, Kannur. He had also served as district chief in Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Kasargod. On deputation, he was SP in National Investigation Agency (NIA) in charge of six states and was instrumental in setting up the Lucknow branch office.

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