In a crackdown on the police-goonda nexus in Kerala, seven police officials have been suspended from service over the last few days on charges of connection with anti-social elements.
The crackdown was initiated following recent goonda gang attacks in Thiruvananthapuram city as well as the attack on the brother of a personal staff of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by a goonda gang.
While two officers in the rank of deputy superintendent of police (DySP) were suspended on Thursday, four officers in circle-inspector rank and one sub-inspector were earlier suspended.
The government order suspending DySP's K J Johnson of Thiruvananthapuram-crime detachment unit and M Prasad of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau stated that they mediated in a real estate dispute involving anti-social elements. There were also allegations that anti-social elements collected funds from many for organising DySP Johnson's daughter's birthday party.
Recently an inspector of police, P R Sunu, accused in several criminal cases, including gang rape, was even dismissed from service.