Industries Minister P. Rajeeve has distanced himself from the suspension of two police officers for allegedly deviating from the preplanned route that was decided for his travel from Neyyattinkara to Ernakulam two days ago.
Grade Sub-Inspector Sabu Rajan and civil police officer N.G. Sunil were suspended by the Thiruvananthapuram city Police Commissioner G. Sparjan Kumar purportedly after the Minister had complained against them.
The officers were part of the Control Room team that had been assigned to pilot Mr. Rajeeve’s convoy from Pallichal, near Neyyattinkara, until Vetturoad, near Kazhakuttom, on Thursday night. The Minister was headed to Kochi after participating in a function at Pallichal.
The City police had planned to guide the Minister’s convoy via Karamana and Attakulangara to enter the NH-66 bypass at Enchakkal. However, the officers chose a different route—from Karamana to Thampanoor to enter the bypass at Chakka via. the Palayam underpass. They attributed the decision to the ongoing repair on the Attakulangara bypass road and the frequent traffic snarls along the route.
With discontent brewing among a section of the police force, the Minister’s office maintained he had not demanded action against the officers. The suspension, however, was made on the basis of a complaint by his gunman.
