The Kerala Police once again came under fire for failing to acknowledge the seriousness of the Kevin abduction case, and take quick action. The inaction of the officers at the Gandhinagar police station in Kottayam district has been blamed for the subsequent murder of the 23-year-old man.
The body of Kevin P. Joseph, who wed Neenu Chacko against the will of the latter's family, was found by locals early Monday morning at Chaliyakkara stream, 20 km away from Thenmala in Kollam.
His body was found lying face down. It is suspected that the body was dumped here after he was killed elsewhere. Footprints were found on the banks of the stream.
Kevin, a resident of SH Mount in Kottayam, was allegedly abducted by an armed gang led by his wife's brother on Sunday. He was forcibly taken along with his relative Anish. The abductors thrashed Anish severely and left him on the way. Anish, who suffered severe injuries on his face in the attack, has been admitted to the Kottayam Medical College Hospital.
Immediately after the incident, Kevin's wife Neenu had approached Gandhinagar police station seeking action against the gang, which she said had abducted her husband. However, the officers had refused to take quick measures to save the youth allegedly citing lack of personnel owing to the visit of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
A Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) leader was reportedly among the abductors of Kevin Joseph who was apparently killed after being taken away by an armed gang on Sunday morning.
Police sources said one of the cars used by the gang was driven by Niyaz, unit secretary of the DYFI at Edamon in Punalur.
The top officials of Kerala police, in a bid to save face, has suspended Gandhinagar sub-inspector M.S. Shibu for failing to take action on time. The family of Kevin has also alleged that the SI received a bribe from the abductors. They have lodged a complaint in this regard with the district police chief.
Meanwhile, Kochi Range IG Vijay Sakhare will conduct a probe into the death of Kevin.
The situation around the Gandhinagar police station is tense as Congress workers led by Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan are staging a protest.
Kottayam SP Mohd Rafique, who has been transferred over the issue, was assaulted amid a scuffle between Congress activists and police.
AIG Harishankar will be the new Kottayam SP as the incumbent Rafique has been shunted out as the row over police inaction escalated.
Meanwhile, the state police chief Loknath Behera has also sought a report from inspector general of Kochi Range.
The police have filed a case against 10 people, including Shanu Chacko, brother of Kevin's wife Neenu Chacko. They have taken one person, Ishan, into custody in connection with the case so far.
On Monday, the family and friends of Kevin protested outside the police station demanding strict action against the police officers and abductors.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the UDF have called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Kottayam district on
Tuesday.