Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday told the Assembly that the government does not agree with the police producing three arrested KSU activists before the court in shackles.

"There was a complaint that the students had been shackled. The government does not agree with such an action, if indeed the students were shackled," the Chief Minister said in reply to questions raised by Opposition MLAs. However, he made no mention of the students being produced with their faces covered in black cloth.

The incident relates to a clash that broke out last month between SFI and KSU workers during the D-zone art festival at Calicut University, 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 (JFMC) 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.

Following the incident, the Wadakkanchery Police Station House Officer (SHO) UK Shajahan was transferred to the police headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram. 

The Chief Minister said that the JFCM Court had sent a letter to the Thrissur City Police Commissioner regarding the incident, and the matter is currently under inquiry by the Kunnamkulam Assistant Commissioner of Police.

He also added that, based on a complaint received at police headquarters, the Thrissur City Police Commissioner has been tasked with conducting an inquiry through an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police and to take appropriate action.