Kerala police officers suspended for partying at gangster’s house

Thiruvananthapuram: Amid rising crime rates in the state, Kerala Police on Monday suspended two policemen who were caught partying at a gangster’s house in Angamaly in Ernakulam district.

The policemen along with their superior officer and MG Sabu of Angamaly Crime Branch DySP were caught enjoying the hospitality of gangster Thammanam Faisal at his house during a raid under Operation AAG (Action Against Goons). While the DySP driver and the Armed Reserve Camp staff have been suspended, the officer who was allegedly hiding in the washroom during the raid is under investigation.

The DySP and other police officers came to Faisal’s house after their trip to Gudalur.

Thammanam Fiasal is one of the criminals against whom the KAAPA (Kerala Anti Social Activities Prevention Act) was first imposed in Kerala.

Operation AAG was launched by the police after crime rates spiked in many parts of the state. The Home Ministry was heavily criticised for failing to curb criminal gangs, which many felt were running rampant in the state.

After the suspension, DySP and police officers started blaming each other. DySP said that he was taken to the criminal’s house by his subordinates, while they accused their superior of having links with the gangster.

Meanwhile, senior officials have launched an internal investigation into the entire incident.

Under Operation AAG, the police had carried out extensive raids on houses and hideouts across the state. Interestingly, the police team also reached the house of Thammanam Faisal under Operation AAG.

The house had been under police surveillance for the past few days. The officers then learned that a police jeep had reached the house. The DySP, two policemen and a police driver were in the house.