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A Grade Sub-Inspector attached to the Thodupuzha police station in Idukki was suspended on Friday, August 28, for sharing a social media post containing communal remarks targeting Muslims.
The officer, K Vijesh, shared a post originally published by a Facebook page called Snehi's Politricks. The post was on a video that had recently gone viral on social media, purportedly showing a hijab-wearing young woman kicking an Onam pookkalam.
The video was circulated with a claim that the incident had taken place in Ernakulam district. The post shared by Vijesh alleged that the pookkalam was initially believed to have been damaged by a dog, but that CCTV footage had revealed otherwise
Idukki District Police chief A Naseem ordered Vijesh's suspension on August 28, following a special report submitted by the Thodupuzha Deputy Superintendent of Police.
According to the order, Vijesh had shared both the post carrying the video and the accompanying remarks from his Facebook account. The District Police chief found that the content violated the conduct expected of a police officer and warranted departmental action.
The suspension has been ordered pending a detailed departmental inquiry into the officer's conduct.
The Thodupuzha Assembly constituency committee of the Muslim Youth League had approached the police with a complaint against Vijesh, alleging that his post promoted communal hatred and insulted a particular community. Although the video was presented as an incident from Kerala, the complaint alleged that it was an old video that had been shared in a misleading context.
The Munnar DySP has been tasked with conducting the inquiry. Further action against the officer will be based on the findings of the investigation.
