Thiruvananthapuram: There is finally some news of hope for the families of four minor boys who were allegedly physically assaulted by Kattakkada police on Sunday.
The officers involved in the case are likely to face disciplinary action.
According to sources in the police, the inquiry report submitted by Kattakkada DSP has recommended disciplinary action against the officers involved, including the inspector in charge of station house officer and sub-inspector of the station, for the alleged lapses committed in handling the underage boys.
The report is being perused by IG (South Zone) Harshita Attaluri before taking a final decision.
As per the report, the police officers found the boys when they reached Anchuthenginmood responding to a call from locals who complained that a group of anti-socials were gathered there and they were indulging in substance abuse.
However, there was an error of judgement from the part of the officers while dealing with the boys.
They failed to realize that they were minor boys and used force when the boys resisted their attempts to take them to the police station.
Later, they were released without any charges being slapped on them.The alleged incident took place on Sunday afternoon.
By evening, the boys complained of pain and uneasiness after reaching their respective homes.
It was then they revealed that some police officers thrashed them using a cable.
Meanwhile, the families are concerned by the delay in registering FIRs based on separate complaints filed by the parents of the four boys.
The opposition party members in the locality too are unhappy over the slow police proceedings.
They have even informed the police that they would even break the lockdown protocols and launch strong protests if the cases are not registered soon.
Speaking to TOI, Rural SP P K Madhu said in such cases police would register a case only after a thorough preliminary inquiry.
‘’It is common that conflicts arise while police officers discharge their duties.
In this particular incident too, the officers confronted the boys as part of discharging their duty,” the SP said.
“Any further action would depend on IG’s decision ,” he said.
Child Rights Commission chairman K V Manoj Kumar and Kattakkada MLA visited the students and promised swift action.