Thiruvananthapuram Police Probe Clears Non-Bailable Charge Against Officer Mithun Roy
An internal police investigation in Thiruvananthapuram has concluded that there was no lapse in invoking a non-bailable charge against civil police officer Mithun Roy. This decision follows a counter-complaint filed by activists of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) in connection with an assault incident at a mall in the city.
Details of the Incident and Investigation
The probe was conducted by a fort assistant commissioner, who submitted a report stating that the charge was based on statements and video evidence. The evidence indicated that Mithun Roy struck SFI workers with a bangle during the altercation at the mall. The incident occurred on Saturday when Mithun, who was on leave, visited the mall with his sister and was allegedly assaulted by a group of SFI activists.
Police suspect that the attack was in retaliation for a previous clash on New Year's Eve at Shanghumugham. During that event, Mithun was among the officers involved in dispersing protesting SFI workers. Following the mall incident, SFI activists lodged a complaint alleging that Mithun assaulted them with a bangle.
Evidence and Legal Actions
Examination of CCTV footage provided prima facie evidence supporting the allegation, which led to the invocation of a non-bailable section against the officer. Specifically, Section 118(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for voluntarily causing hurt was charged against Mithun after reviewing the video footage. However, the police have decided not to take further action, such as his arrest, according to a police source.
This move had triggered resentment within the police force, highlighting tensions over the handling of the case. In a related development, Vanchiyoor police had earlier arrested SFI activists Revanth and Sujith in connection with the assault. They were later released on bail under bailable sections.
Statements from Authorities
Director General of Police (DGP) Ravada Chandrasekhar emphasized that strict action would be taken against all accused parties. He stated, "If there is any assault, we will take strict action. If the police personnel has done anything, action will be taken against him as well." This underscores the commitment to impartiality in addressing the incident.
The internal probe's findings aim to clarify the legal basis for the charges while addressing concerns within the police force and the public regarding the handling of such sensitive cases involving law enforcement and political activists.
