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Journalism of Courage
Controversial Inspector General of Police Tomin J Thachankary,currently under suspension following an unauthorised Gulf tour in April,has landed in trouble again over a visit to Qatar earlier this year.
Asked about the media report on the IPS officer,who is close to CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan,Chief Minister V S Achuthanadan said the state government has got a communication from the Centre in this regard. The Chief Secretary would look into the issue and take appropriate action. The details cannot be shared with the media, he said.
Thachankary told The Indian Express he had gone to Qatar with the permission of the Home Minister and DGP. I had not met any person facing terror charges. I had gone there to speak with Qatar police about the extradition of Malayalees involved in cases in Kerala,particularly with regard to a murder case registered at Payyanur police limits in Kannur,where I had been serving as the range IG, he said. What I came to know is that the Indian Ambassador in Qatar has written to the Centre that police officials from India should not directly deal with the police in Qatar,but only through the Embassy.
DGP Jacob Punnose said all the visits by Thachankary to Gulf countries were under investigation. The reported Qatar visit was with government permission. But what had happened during that visit could be revealed only after investigation. In fact,the youth outfit of the Muslim League had raised the same allegation a few months back, he said.
