Kerala Police has suspended five officers accused in the infamous Nava Kerala Sadas assault case—the attack on Youth Congress workers in Alappuzha during the Nava Kerala Sadas outreach programme led by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The suspended officers were part of Vijayan’s security detail, including his gunman.
The officer—Anil Kumar, S. Sandeep, Vipin, Shaiju, and Arun—were suspended after the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the new government, recommended strong departmental action. Anil Kumar, the first accused in the case, has served as Pinarayi Vijayan’s gunman since 2001.
According to the SIT report, the actions of the Chief Minister’s security personnel violated the Central Government’s 'Yellow Book' guidelines governing VIP security. Under these guidelines, the role of a VIP security team is limited to evacuating and protecting the VIP during a conflict situation, while maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the local police.
However, on December 15, 2023, members of the security team allegedly assaulted KSU district president A.D. Thomas—now the Alappuzha MLA—and Youth Congress state secretary Ajay Jewel Kuriakose after they showed black flags at the Nava Kerala bus carrying Pinarayi Vijayan. At the time, Vijayan had defended the incident by describing it as a “rescue operation.”
The SIT reportedly concluded that the incident amounted not only to a violation of protocol but also to a serious security lapse.
Observations by the SIT:
Security personnel assigned to VIP protection are required to remain close to the VIP at all times and travel in escort vehicles positioned ahead of and behind the VIP’s vehicle. They are permitted to stop only if the VIP vehicle stops. However, the SIT found that in this case, the Chief Minister’s vehicle had already moved ahead when members of the security team stopped their vehicle, got down, and allegedly assaulted the protesters. During this time, they were no longer accompanying the Chief Minister.
The SIT also reportedly found that local police officers at the scene had already restrained the protesters and brought the situation under control before the security personnel arrived and allegedly attacked them.
The report further pointed out that the security team is officially authorised to carry only handguns. However, they allegedly used long cane sticks resembling police batons to beat the protesters. According to the report, the sticks were longer than regular police lathis and had not been officially issued by the police department.
Earlier, the Crime Branch under the previous LDF government had given a clean chit to the Chief Minister’s gunmen and security personnel, terming the incident a legitimate “rescue operation.” The finding drew widespread criticism and was later rejected by the court, which ordered a reinvestigation. Despite the court directive, no further action was taken at the time. Following the change in government, the cabinet decided to reopen the case and constituted an SIT for reinvestigation.
Meanwhile, an Alappuzha court today disposed of the anticipatory bail pleas filed by gunmen Anil and Sandeep. The court also sharply criticised the SIT, observing that the investigation report was incomplete. The anticipatory bail pleas were disposed of after the court noted that the charges invoked against the gunmen were bailable offenses.
