Wadakkanchery SHO transferred after KSU activists presented in court with faces covered

Thrissur: Wadakkanchery Police Station House Officer (SHO) UK Shajahan has been transferred from his post in connection with an incident in which KSU workers were presented before a court with their faces covered. Shahjahan has been shifted to the police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.  

The decision was made based on a report submitted by City Police Commissioner R Ilango. which stated that there was a lapse in judgment by the Circle Inspector in the controversial incident. Following this, Shajahan was urgently summoned to the police headquarters and removed from his position as part of disciplinary measures. He has not been assigned a new posting yet.

The incident relates to a clash that broke out a month ago between SFI and KSU workers, in which members from both sides sustained injuries. Subsequently, a police case was registered against three KSU leaders — district vice president Ganesh Attur, district committee member Al Ameen, and Killimangalam Arts College unit president KA Aslam.

The three accused had gone into hiding but were later arrested from various locations. However, controversy erupted when the police brought them to the Wadakkanchery Judicial First Class Magistrate Court with their face covered using black cloth. The court questioned the police on the need to cover the faces of the accused. In response, the police said it was due to the identification parade procedures. But even after court proceedings, the police were reportedly unwilling to remove the masks.

The move drew criticism from Congress and KSU, who launched protests in response. KSU held a march to the Wadakkanchery Police Station, while Youth Congress organised a ‘masked march’ to the DIG’s office.