A 'coterie' in CM's office controlling police, not Pinarayi Vijayan: UDF in Kerala Assembly

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Vijayan, the Congress-led UDF on Thursday alleged in the Assembly that a "coterie" of persons in his office was controlling the police and not him. The allegation was made by the opposition UDF during heated discussions on the alleged continuation of police atrocities in the state and lack of steps on the part of the Left government to put an end to them. The opposition made the allegations in a notice moved by some UDF MLAs for adjournment of the House proceedings to discuss the issue of alleged police atrocities in the state.

Referring to the recent custodial death of a man, picked up for alleged drug possession, earlier this month, the opposition alleged the victim was brutally beaten up by a special squad — District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) — under the Malappuram SP and demanded that he be suspended. Responding to the allegations, Vijayan said the case registered regarding the custodial death will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He also said eight officers involved in the incident have been suspended.

«This government will not condone any assault or use of force against people in police stations under any circumstances,» the CM said, adding none of the culprits in the case would be able to escape punishment. He further said it was the government stand to hand over to CBI any case of custodial death. In view of the stand taken by the CM, the permission to adjourn the House to discuss the issue was denied by Speaker A N Shamseer.