The findings, submitted to State Police Chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar by SIT head U Preman, contradict allegations that prompted the arrest of five student activists on attempted murder charges. Investigators found that security personnel prevented protesters from reaching George and that the confrontation involved pushing and jostling rather than an assault on her.
The report also found no evidence that any weapon was used against George, as alleged in the original police complaint. Its findings place the initial account of the incident, particularly her former gunman’s statement, under scrutiny.
Preman, Commandant of the Kerala Armed Police Battalion, led the further investigation ordered after questions emerged over the handling of the case. The team examined statements from George, her security personnel and officers involved in the original investigation.
The State Police Chief will now consider the findings and decide whether further action is warranted against the former gunman and the original investigating officers. No disciplinary decision has been announced.
The gunman, identified as Abhilash, had initially claimed that he witnessed KSU activists attacking George during the black flag demonstration. His complaint formed the basis of the first information report registered by the railway police.
During the further investigation, however, Abhilash withdrew the assertion that he had personally witnessed an attack. He told investigators that his earlier allegation about protesters attempting to assault George with a weapon had been made at her direction, according to the account recorded by the SIT.
That statement is an allegation by the former security officer and does not independently establish that George instructed him to make a false complaint. The SIT’s central finding concerns the absence of evidence that protesters physically assaulted her.
Investigators also examined the circumstances surrounding George’s reported injuries. She complained of neck pain after the confrontation and underwent hospital treatment. Medical assessments identified no visible external injury, although doctors recorded complaints of pain and swelling around her neck.
The findings distinguish the reported medical symptoms from the allegation that student protesters inflicted them through a deliberate physical attack. The investigation attributed the disturbance at the station to jostling involving protesters and police personnel.
Another police officer assigned to George’s security, Sub Inspector Deepthi, disputed an earlier statement attributed to her suggesting that the minister had been thrown during the protest. She told the SIT that she had not given that account and alleged that inaccurate information had been recorded in her name.
The findings raise questions about the original investigation’s justification for serious charges against the students.
The protest took place on February 25, when KSU members displayed black flags as George arrived at Kannur railway station to board a train. The activists were protesting over allegations of medical negligence.
Police subsequently arrested five activists after registering a case alleging an attempt on the minister’s life. The accused were identified as M C Athul, V V Akshay, C H Mubas, Bithul Balan and Ahmed Yasin.
They spent more than two weeks in judicial custody before obtaining bail. The students maintained that they had been prevented from approaching George and disputed the allegation that they had attacked her.
The original investigation underwent a significant change when police filed a charge sheet in June without the attempted murder allegation and other serious charges initially invoked.
(The article ‘SIT throws out Veena assault’ appeared first on Free Press Journal.)
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