By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Kochi: Man chased by police died drowning in river in Kannur in north Kerala. Riyas (22) was reportedly chased by police led by V Shaji, SI of Kannapuram, when he was going for juma at around 12.30 in the noon yesterday. The police reportedly left when they found he had been fallen into the river. His body was later found at around 5.15 pm after a search by local people and the fire force in the river.
V Shaji, SI, was then suspended by Tomin J Thachankari, Kannur area IG.
Riyas was an active member of the Popular Front of India. Hundreds of PFI activists boycotted the Kannapuram police station when news spread of Riyas’s drowning. SP Anoop Kuruvilla John, Special Branch DySP KV Santhosh and Kannur DySP N Rajesh Kumar reached the police station hearing the news. The PFI activists demanded the arrest of the SI and other constables responsible for Riyas’s death. The strike was withdrawn around 6.15 pm when the SP informed that the IG had directed the suspension of the police officers concerned. The IG has also reportedly appointed the SP to enquire into the incident.
K Sudhakaran, MP of Kannur, also reached the place hearing of the incident.
The police reportedly say that Riyas was accused in seven cases and that the police had tried to catch him in connection with a case registered against him a few days before. Reports also say that the police left when he jumped into the river as they thought he escaped from their hold to Mattool nearby.
However, the PFI argue that Riyas had been given bail in all cases. They say that the police made him an accused unwontedly in a problem with the local people. The PFI has demanded that a case of murder be charged against the police officers responsible for the death of Riyas. The party will organise strong agitation if the authorities try to protect the accused, said P Abdul Hameed, state general secretary of the PFI.