The Kerala High Court on Monday slammed the police for the delay in investigating cops, who had allegedly indulged in violence during the protests at Sabarimala last year. The High Court went on to call it incompetence on the part of the police force for the delay and warned that other investigating agencies would be appointed to probe the matter, reports Deccan Chronicle.
The court was hearing a petition in connection with police allegedly destroying two-wheeler vehicles of protesters at Nilakkal. The protests against women’s entry into Sabarimala took a violent turn last October when Ayyappa devotees clashed with police, resulting in injuries to many.
Meanwhile, the state government informed the court that three police personnel have been identified and that the rest were yet to be identified as they had left for their respective battalions. The High Court, however, responded that this justification was not believable, reports Manorama Online. The court pointed out that the state government had not listed what actions have been taken against the identified three police officers.
The High Court went on to direct the state government to submit a report on the remaining police officials who indulged in violence in two weeks.
The court also observed, “There are no problems in Sabarimala now and no one should try to destroy the peaceful condition there.”
The Supreme Court had in September last year delivered a landmark judgement allowing the entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala temple. The apex court’s decision was met with protests from several right-wing groups. Around 1,500 police personnel each had been deployed in the areas of the temple, Pamba and Nilakkal.