The V.D. Satheesan government in Kerala has initiated a high-profile reinvestigation into the assault on Youth Congress and KSU workers by the gunmen of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the Nava Kerala Yatra in Alappuzha in December 2023. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Alappuzha SP, Crime Branch, Shoukath Ali, along with investigating officer Baiju Paulose, has been tasked with probing the incident that sparked widespread outrage and criticism of the previous government’s alleged politicization of the police force. The team has been given a deadline to submit a progress report within two weeks and a final investigation report within a month, underscoring the new regime’s urgency and political focus on the case.
The incident, which occurred in December 2023, involved Youth Congress and KSU activists attempting to protest against Vijayan’s convoy during the Nava Kerala outreach program in Alappuzha. Video footage showed the Chief Minister’s gunmen, Anil Kumar and Sandeep S, exiting the escort vehicle and reportedly assaulting the protesters in public view. Vijayan’s defense of the action as a “rescue operation” further fueled the controversy, with opposition leaders accusing the government of condoning violence by security personnel and shielding the perpetrators. The reopening of the case by the Satheesan government upon assuming office is seen as a signal that it intends to revisit politically sensitive incidents from the previous administration and hold accountable those implicated in alleged abuses of power.
Shoukath Ali, known for his involvement in high-profile cases, including the investigation into the political murder of T.P. Chandrasekheran in 2012, will lead the reinvestigation. His past actions have led to the arrests of numerous CPI-M activists. The decision to reinvestigate is also seen as a cautionary message to elements within the police force accused of operating with political backing during the previous government’s tenure. With Shoukath Ali spearheading the probe, this reinvestigation is anticipated to be closely monitored as one of the significant political cases in Kerala in the upcoming weeks.
