A Sub Inspector from Ernakulam district has gone viral on social media after a heated conversation between him and a local politician in Kochi was leaked.
In the audio clip of the telephonic conversation that was leaked, Amruth Rangan, SI of Kalamassery police station can be heard taking on Kalamassery area secretary of the CPI(M), Zakirhusain VA. The police officer can be heard saying that he would not be available to work according to a politician's whims and fancies.
The verbal duel between the two started when the CPI(M) leader called the police officer to enquire why the police behaved rudely with an SFI district president during a clash that broke out between two student groups at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).
The SFI unit of CUSAT had taken out a victory rally on Wednesday to celebrate the college election results. Meanwhile, BTech students at Sahara hostel had organised an Onam celebration. At one point, a clash broke out between the two groups and a student from the hostel was injured. While the injured student was rushed to the hospital, police moved a few of the agitating members to the Amenity centre in the University.
Zakirhusain, who is also an accused in a case of kidnapping, can be heard questioning why the police took the SFI leader to the Amenity Centre in a police van and abused him despite knowing that he was a student leader.
Initially, the SI informs Zakirhusain that the student was dropped off at the Amenity centre to avoid further clashes; he also tells the CPI(M) leader not to jump to conclusions listening to the SFI members' version.
“At least you should have behaved properly to him when he informed you that he holds a leadership position. Even though I am talking to you for the first time after you got posted here, I have heard complaints about you from political colleagues. It will be good for you to remember the politics of Kalamassery and how things work here and then behave accordingly,” the CPI(M) leader can be heard saying.
This is when the police officer loses his cool and states that he doesn't care about the politics nor is he a sympathiser of any political party.
“I have not taken any vow to sit in this post as SI," he says. The policeman then goes on to say that he will not stand and watch any student getting attacked. As he gets agitated, Zakirhusain asks him why he was raising his voice.
The SI loses his cool for the second time when Zakirhusain says, "You are not the first person to be posted as SI here."
“But there is a difference this time, my friend,” the police officer says. “Even if I have to die, I won’t allow the students to get beaten up. That is the reason why I have worn this police uniform. Do whatever you can,” Amruth says.
The CPI(M) leader then reminds him that even Amruth’s superior officers do not talk harshly to him. “Your superior officers talk decently to us, do you have any horns?” Zakir asks.
To this, Amruth replies that he might have horns as he got into the police force after having passed the exams.
However, there has also been criticism on the Sub Inspector for leaking the audio conversation. Moreover, paper clippings of past complaints against him given by ordinary citizens too have been doing the rounds.