Thiruvananthapuram: Six police personnel attached to the Kazhakkoottam Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram have been suspended following an incident of public drinking that has embarrassed the force and drawn sharp scrutiny from senior officers.
The suspended personnel have also been directed to undergo mandatory good conduct training, officials said.
The action comes after visuals emerged showing the policemen consuming alcohol while seated inside a car. The footage, which went viral after being shared with senior police officials, shows the officers in civil dress drinking inside a parked vehicle right in front of the Kazhakkoottam police station, which falls under the prestigious Technopark campus area.
A preliminary inquiry conducted immediately after the visuals surfaced described the incident as a “serious lapse” and an act “completely unacceptable” for serving police personnel. The report confirmed that the officers were on duty at the time, aggravating the severity of the misconduct.
According to the inquiry, the incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Monday. The officers reportedly stepped out of the police station, stating they were headed to attend a wedding function. However, the inquiry noted that irrespective of the reason cited, consuming alcohol during duty hours and in a public space constitutes gross indiscipline and a violation of service rules.
The Kazhakkoottam Assistant Commissioner of Police conducted the preliminary inquiry and submitted a detailed report to the City Police Commissioner, based on which disciplinary action was taken promptly.
Sources said the visuals were recorded by a member of the public who noticed the unusual behaviour and discreetly captured the scene before forwarding it to higher police officials. The swift spread of the footage prompted immediate intervention from the police leadership.
Senior officers emphasised that the department would not tolerate any conduct undermining public trust in the police force. Further departmental proceedings are expected, along with a detailed inquiry.
With IANS inputs