Custodial Violence Cases in Assembly, Chief Minister Counters Opposition with Data

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday declared in the Kerala Legislative Assembly that the government will never shield any police officer with a criminal background, asserting that wrongdoings in the force will face the strictest action, including dismissal.

The statement came during heated exchanges with Opposition Leader V D Satheeshan over alleged custodial violence cases, raised through an adjournment motion moved by Roji M John MLA. The CM insisted that the LDF government has consistently acted against errant officers and never attempted to protect them.

He presented data to underline the government’s record: since May 2016, 108 police officers have been dismissed from service. Between October 2024 and September 2025 alone, 36 officers were removed. In the past nine years, 144 police officers have been terminated from duty. “Has such strict action ever been taken during Congress rule?” the CM asked, prompting the Opposition to stage a boycott after losing ground in the debate.

Vijayan stressed that comprehensive reforms introduced since 2016 have transformed policing in Kerala, with the state police emerging as one of the best investigative wings in India. “Some in the media try to magnify certain incidents, but that doesn’t mean the entire force is corrupt. Kerala Police is among the least corrupt in the country. Wrongdoings by individuals cannot be seen as the collapse of the whole system,” he said.

Specific cases were also cited during the discussion.

At Kunnamkulam and Erumapetti police stations, a man named Sujith alleged in April 2023 that he was assaulted in custody. Four civil police officers and the Sub -Inspector were transferred following an urgent inquiry. Later, increments of three officers, including the SI, were withheld for two years. Acting on a private complaint and further investigation, the North Zone IG suspended the accused officers in September 2025.

In Peechi, a complaint alleged that SHO Ratheesh assaulted a hotel owner’s son and an employee and threatened them with non-bailable charges. He was later shifted to the Thrissur City Traffic Enforcement Unit, while Mannuthi police were tasked with investigation.

Other incidents included a custodial complaint at Peroorkada police station in Thiruvananthapuram, which led to the suspension of SI Prasad and Grade ASI Prasannakumar; an allegation of pepper spray misuse by an SI at Chirayinkeezhu, now under probe; and the 2024 Kundara case, where Thomson Thankachan and family members were assaulted, followed by his death due to alcohol-related illness. Decline in complaints Figures presented in the House showed a steady fall in complaints before the Police Complaints Authority: 808 in 2017, 272 in 2021, 146 each in 2022 and 2023, 94 in 2024, and 25 so far in 2025.

“The UDF treated the police as a force meant to beat and shoot people down. That was never the LDF’s approach,” the Chief Minister said, recalling the sacrifices of the police during the COVID-19 pandemic and their effective intervention at Chooralmala.

He also pointed out that the LDF government in 2006 had introduced the Janamaithri policing project, which reshaped policing in Kerala. While acknowledging that remnants of old negative practices still exist among some officers, he reiterated that the government’s policy is to deal with misconduct firmly.

“Wrongdoings in the police will not be tolerated. Officers found guilty will face the strictest punishment, including dismissal,” Pinarayi Vijayan concluded.