Opposition Leader Ridicules Chief Minister’s Response to Custodial Deaths
Thiruvananthapuram: The Leader of Opposition, VD Satheesan, has strongly criticized Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s statement regarding custodial deaths in Kerala, calling them “isolated incidents.” Satheesan humorously suggested that a counting machine should be installed to keep track of these supposedly singular events. The opposition leader made these remarks during his walkout speech in the Assembly.
In a scathing tone, Satheesan pointed out several cases of custodial deaths, emphasizing that each of them should be viewed as an individual event. He highlighted the unfortunate fate of Manohar, who was beaten to death in Tripunithura merely for not stopping his bike immediately, despite being signaled by the police. Satheesan questioned the measures taken in response to such incidents, listing names like Sajjevan from Vadakara, Sreejith from Varapuzha, Raj Kumar from Idukki, and Vinayakan from Thrissur to underscore the gravity of the issue.
Stressing the need for the government to refrain from descending to the level depicted in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s book, “News of Kidnapping,” Satheesan criticized the arrest of a woman who reported her husband missing. Tragically, it turned out that the police had beaten, killed, buried, and imprisoned her husband, only for him to reappear the next day. Satheesan questioned the conduct of the police and highlighted the case of Bharti’s 84-year-old mother, who was unjustly implicated. He sarcastically stated that this person had gone through immense transformation after experiencing four years of ups and downs, sarcastically calling them the “best police.”
Expressing his discontent, Satheesan declared that no cases would be filed against anyone, citing instances where individuals had been both demoted and promoted within the party without any accountability. He also raised concerns about the Communist Party of India (Marxist) district secretary having the power to make decisions in cases involving the mistreatment of women. Satheesan suggested that if this were the case, the party should appoint MV Govindan as the Director General of Police (DGP) and the district secretary as Superintendent of Police (SP).
Continuing his criticism, Satheesan highlighted the Chief Minister’s attempt to praise the police in the wake of the shocking custodial death incidents in Kerala. He remarked that the Prime Minister’s assertion that no other state possesses the same level of governance and police efficiency was contradicted by the fact that Kerala itself falls within the category of states where such incidents have occurred, including the shooting and killing of Maoists in places like Wayanad.
Furthermore, Satheesan drew comparisons with Chhattisgarh, which has a high concentration of Maoists and where 21 Congress leaders, including the President of the Pradesh Congress Committee and a Union Minister, were killed in a bomb attack. He raised questions regarding the failure to neutralize Maoists involved in fabricated conflicts within Kerala.
Criticizing the delay in filing an FIR related to drug trafficking after the death of a person in Tanur, Satheesan questioned whether it was justifiable for the police to resort to fatal beatings of drug users. He asserted that if this were the case, thousands of people would have to be killed. Satheesan also raised concerns about custodial torture and the potential establishment of a Department of Torture Medicine due to the prevalence of such practices.
Accusing the Communist Party of India (Marxist) of politicizing the police force, Satheesan alleged that subordinate officers often disregarded the orders of their superiors due to political influence from CPM leaders. He argued that this detrimental politicization has compromised the credibility and efficiency of the police force in Kerala.
Disputing the Prime Minister’s influence over the police, Satheesan claimed that a secret team in the Prime Minister’s Office controls the force. This secretive group supposedly appoints officials, manipulates investigators, files lawsuits against opponents, and shields favorites from prosecution. Satheesan described this influential conglomerate as having kidnapped the police, leading the Kerala Police to an abysmal and absurd state. Additionally, the opposition leader accused the government of violating the guidelines outlined by the Supreme Court in the DK Basu case regarding custodial beatings.
Reflecting on interruptions during the opposition leader’s speech, Satheesan observed that this was a common occurrence, even in other legislative bodies like the Senedd. He remarked on the recent speech given by Rahul Gandhi and questioned whether these disturbances were learned from other assemblies or if others imitated Kerala’s example. Furthermore, Satheesan inquired about the sudden rise of intolerance in society.
Thiruvananthapuram: Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan ridiculed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s comment that custodial deaths in Kerala were isolated incidents. Satheesan joked that a counting machine should be installed to record individual events. The opposition leader’s comment was against the First Minister during his walk out speech in the Assembly.
Any event is said to be an individual one. Manohar was beaten to death in Tripunithura because he stopped his bike just ahead despite being shown his hand by the police. But what steps were taken? Sajjevan from Vadakara, Sreejith from Varapuzha, Raj Kumar from Idukki, Vinayakan from Thrissur.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s book, News of Kidnapping, is about a government that kidnaps and tortures people from every slum. Your government should not go to that level. The woman was arrested saying her husband was missing. Then he beat them, killed her husband, buried her and put her in prison. The next day her husband entered the scene. What shames your police? Bharti’s 84-year-old mother has been accused in the case. He said the person had changed after four years of going up and down. Satheesan said they are the best police.
No case will be filed against anyone. He was demoted and promoted in the party due to loud complaints including in Alappuzha. Is it CPM Alappuzha SP District Secretary? Is it enough for the party secretary to make a decision in every case of insulting women? In that case declare MV Govindan as DGP and district secretary as SP.
The Chief Minister tried to praise the police for the custodial death that shocked Kerala. The Prime Minister spoke as if there was no state in the country with good governance and police like this. The Prime Minister says that there have been 54 cases of police killings in the whole country and among them there are even states that are causing problems for the opposition. It should be remembered that Kerala, of which you are the Chief Minister, is among them. Didn’t the police shoot and kill Maoists in places including Wayanad?
Chhattisgarh has the highest concentration of Maoists in India. The Maoists killed 21 Congress leaders, including the PCC President and a Union Minister, with a bomb. There are no such Maoist attacks here. But the Maoists who caused fake clashes in Kerala were not shot dead?
An FIR related to drug trafficking was registered two and a half hours after Tanur’s death. Should drug users be beaten to death at the police station? If so, thousands of people will have to be killed. The Government cannot control drug addiction.
The young man was killed by the police on the pretext of using drugs. Does anus lathi type custody torture happen in your time? Torture squad led by SP? If it goes this way, the Department of Torture Medicine will have to be started. In the police, subordinate officers do not obey when the superior officer tells them to do so. The police are controlled by the CPM leaders. You have made the police worse by politicizing it.
The Prime Minister does not control the police. The force is governed by a secret team in the Prime Minister’s office. They are the ones who appoint officials, influence investigators, sue opponents, and protect favorites from prosecution. The gang has kidnapped the police. Kerala Police is in a pathetic and ridiculous situation. Despite the death in custody, the First Minister praises the police. Satheesan also said that the guidelines given by the Supreme Court regarding custodial beatings in the DK Basu case are being violated.
Interruption when the Leader of the Opposition is speaking is a regular feature. The same thing happens in the Senedd. This was from start to finish when Rahul Gandhi gave his speech yesterday. Did you learn from there, or did they learn from here? We listened while the Prime Minister spoke. The opposition leader also asked why the intolerance now.
#Counting #machines #installed #count #individual #events #Satheesan #mocks #Prime #Minister
