Assault on Youth Congress workers during Nava Kerala Sadas unlawful: SIT

Thiruvananthapuram: The special investigation team (SIT) probing the assault on Youth Congress workers during Nava Kerala Sadas in Alappuzha in 2023 reportedly found that the physical assault by former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s security personnel was against rules and procedures.

The SIT is expected to soon submit its report to state police chief, recommending action against four gunmen involved in the incident. After examining the visuals of the incident, SIT concluded that the assault on Youth Congress workers by the security personnel was unlawful. The SIT also found indications of high-level interference and an alleged attempt to derail the investigation into the case involving former chief minister’s security personnel. According to the current investigation team’s findings, senior-level intervention took place during the earlier probe into the incident.

One of the key findings of SIT relates to video footage of the assault, which is considered crucial evidence in the case. Police had earlier informed the court that investigators had not seen the video footage of the incident. However, SIT found that the initial report prepared during the first phase of investigation had specifically mentioned the existence of the video footage. That report had also recorded that the assault took place while the gunmen were on official duty.

The SIT suspects that the investigation report underwent major changes after the then investigating officer, Alappuzha DSP Sunil Raj, was summoned twice to the office of the then ADGP (law and order) in Thiruvananthapuram. According to SIT’s assessment, the investigation report was substantially altered after these meetings and the claim that the video footage hadn't been viewed was inserted into the report.

A special team headed by SP Shoukath Ali is currently reinvestigating the case. The SIT has recorded the statements of officers, including the then DSP and SIs who earlier investigated the case.

The SIT ‘s preliminary assessment is that there was deliberate intervention from higher levels to protect the former chief minister’s gunmen. The investigation team is now trying to identify the senior officials behind the alleged attempt to sabotage the probe.