The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted to reinvestigate the controversial “rescue operation” that took place in Alappuzha during the Nava Kerala Sadas programme, has invoked attempt-to-murder charges against five police personnel, including members of the security team of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The SIT has submitted its investigation report to the Alappuzha Magistrate Court, recommending serious non-bailable charges against the accused officers. Following the inclusion of the stringent charges, the principal accused reportedly withdrew their anticipatory bail applications pending before the Alappuzha District and Sessions Court.
According to the SIT, gunman Anil Kumar, security officer S. Sandeep, and police personnel Shyju, Vipin and Arun, who were part of the former Chief Minister’s escort team, are culpable in the incident.
The attempt-to-murder charge was invoked after investigators received indications that some of the accused, including Anil Kumar and Sandeep, were likely to surrender before the court. The addition of a non-bailable offence is expected to significantly impact the legal proceedings against them.
The case relates to an incident during the 2023 Nava Kerala Yatra in Alappuzha, when activists of the Youth Congress and the Kerala Students Union (KSU) staged a black-flag protest against the Chief Minister.
During the protest, members of Vijayan’s security detail allegedly exited their escort vehicles and assaulted demonstrators, including present-day MLA A.D. Thomas and Youth Congress leader Ajay Juel Kuriakose, using lathis.
At the time, Pinarayi Vijayan defended the actions of his security personnel, describing them as part of a necessary “rescue operation” undertaken to protect his life.
However, the SIT has reportedly rejected this justification, concluding that local police had already secured the area and contained the protesters, leaving no operational necessity for the Chief Minister’s personal security personnel to intervene.
The investigation further found that the accused officers were not authorised to carry or use lathis. The SIT concluded that striking protesters on the head amounted to an act capable of causing death and warranted the invocation of attempt-to-murder provisions.
The reinvestigation stems from an order issued by the Alappuzha Magistrate Court on November 8, 2024, which rejected an earlier Crime Branch report that had exonerated the accused personnel. While the previous government allegedly did not act on the court’s directive, the new UDF government subsequently ordered a fresh probe into the incident.
Accordingly, the Kerala Police constituted a six-member SIT led by Alappuzha Crime Branch Superintendent of Police A.P. Shoukathali to reinvestigate the case.
The probe has also triggered a wider political controversy. According to findings cited in the investigation, senior police officials, including former ADGP (Law and Order) M.R. Ajith Kumar, allegedly manipulated case diaries and medical records in an effort to dilute the original investigation and shield the accused officers.
Legal experts advising the SIT have reportedly suggested that additional charges, including criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence, may be considered against officials found complicit.
Meanwhile, Kerala Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekharan has suspended the five accused police personnel. Suspension orders were issued against S. Sandeep, Anil Kumar, Arun, Vipin and Shyju following the submission of the SIT’s interim report.