Kerala police officer in trouble after wireless comment on Rahul

The state police began a probe after the Congress leaders took up the matter. While senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy said the officer’s comment was an insult to the state,Youth Congress activists took out a march to the assistant commissioner’s office,demanding his suspension.

City Police Commissioner S Sreejith,who is investigating his assistant’s alleged comments,said the problem was regarding certain words used by the officer. A report would be submitted after collecting evidence from all officers who had heard the alleged comment through the wireless set.

However,Pradeepkumar told The Indian Express that he had only enquired about the location of the Congress leader. “Is the Malayalam word chengathi insulting? My comment was recorded in the wireless set and it was up to everyone to inspect. If a senior Communist leader is visiting,we may refer to him as a comrade. Then,would it be painted as offensive?” he asked.

Last October,Pradeepkumar had landed in trouble in connection with the removal of two Muslim policemen on duty during the visit of BJP leader L K Advani in Kozhikode. The then North Kerala ADGP,who investigated the incident,had observed that excluding the Muslim police drivers was an administrative lapse on the part of Pradeepkumar,which should not have happened. He should have been more careful,said ADGP K S Jang Pangi in his report.

Last year,the Kerala Police had suspended a circle inspector,who made an offensive remark on Defence Minister A K Antony. The CI asked over his wireless set,“Has that kullan (means short man) gone?” The officer was referring to the movement of Antony’s vehicle on a Kerala road.