Attempt to Sabotage Investigation Into Hans Theft from Police Station; DYFI Marches to Bathery Police Station

Bathery: The DYFI marched to the Bathery police station in protest against alleged attempts by the police to protect an officer accused in a case involving the theft of narcotic products kept as seized property at the station.

The protest followed allegations that senior civil police officer Sabith, who is accused of stealing seven sacks of Hans tobacco products from the station, had appeared publicly before the media but had not been arrested by the investigation team.

DYFI alleged that narcotic products seized under Operation Toofan were routinely being removed from police stations. It further alleged that senior officers were attempting to sabotage the investigation out of fear that links between the police and the drug mafia would be exposed.

The organisation demanded that the Home Department release details of the quantity of narcotic products seized under Operation Toofan, along with evidence of their destruction.

The march began from the premises of the AKG Centre in Bathery and was stopped by police using barricades at the station gate. District secretary K M Francis inaugurated the protest. K V Aneesh presided. District president K R Jithin, district joint secretaries Jobison James and Arjun Gopal also addressed the gathering.

DYFI leaders alleged that the Bathery police station was becoming a centre of law violations under the protection of the UDF government. They warned that the organisation would launch widespread protests if the accused police officer was not arrested immediately and action was not taken against the other accused.