Family assaulted by police cites discrepancies in FIR

Kottayam: The family, who was assaulted by a police team in mufti at Aban Junction on Tuesday night, said there were discrepancies in the FIR registered at Pathanamthitta police station as it did not name SI Jinu JU, CPOs Jobin Joseph and Ashfak Rasheed. They were part of the police team that lathicharged them without a warning.
Sreejith and his wife Sithara, who were among those beaten up by the police, claimed that there is also a discrepancy in the time stated in the FIR regarding the incident and the issue that occurred in the bar. They plan to file a complaint with the chief minister and the DGP citing these issues.
The family will also demand the inclusion of SC/ST Act in the case. They do not want Pathanamthitta deputy SP S Nandakumar and the station CI to probe the case. Meanwhile, police said that the names of policemen will be included after gathering more evidence. They added that the discrepancies in timings will be probed.
Police also released a video showing the group, including those who were beaten up, standing in front of the bar. The visuals also showed some of them going inside the bar and returning. Two youths are also seen talking to the bar staff and then leaving on a two-wheeler. The bar staff filed a complaint against the persons who used the two-wheeler.
SHRC orders probe into police assault
State human rights commission (SHRC), on Thursday, ordered an ‘honest and transparent' investigation into the alleged assault by police on a family near a bar in Pathanamthitta three days ago. SHRC chairperson Justice Alexander Thomas directed the Thiruvananthapuram Range IG that the investigation must be carried out by a senior officer (SP rank) who is not from Pathanamthitta.
SHRC said that after the IG gets the SP's report, he should evaluate it, examine the allegations and submit his findings before the SHRC within a month. The SP's report should also be submitted along with it, it added. SHRC said the matter will be next considered on March 14. SHRC issued this directive based on newspaper reports of the incident.
(With inputs from PTI)