Kochi: Kerala Assembly Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan on Saturday renewed his criticism of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the state police over alleged custodial torture and the treatment of Kerala Students Union (KSU) activists produced in a Thrissur court following clashes with the Student Federation of India (SFI).
Satheesan accused the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home Department portfolio, of being a “mute spectator” to what he described as “anarchy and atrocities” by the police. He further alleged that Vijayan had turned the police into a “terrorist organisation” that functions solely to serve the interests of the CPI(M) and act on the party’s directives.
“Vijayan is scared to speak about police actions and is hiding his head in the sand like an ostrich,” Satheesan said. “If you have any courage, then respond to these issues,” he challenged, adding that the Chief Minister would be held accountable.
The opposition leader also warned the police officers involved in such incidents that they would not continue to wear the khaki uniform once the United Democratic Front (UDF) comes to power. “We used to forgive such things in the past. We will not do so anymore,” he asserted.
Satheesan had also targeted the Chief Minister on Friday over “widespread reports of police torture” across the state. He said Vijayan should relinquish the Home portfolio in light of the reports of alleged torture in police stations coming to light from multiple districts, and that he does not deserve to continue as Home Minister under such circumstances.
The opposition leader condemned the police after three KSU leaders, arrested following a clash with the SFI, were produced before a magistrate court at Wadakkanchery in Thrissur district with their faces masked and hands cuffed. Satheesan alleged that the police were acting as “slaves of the CPI(M)” in carrying out such actions.
With PTI inputs