Cops say mea culpa in Walayar deaths
Sub-inspector suspended, probe against CI, DySP.
Thrissur: The police on Thursday admitted to the serious lapses in the investigation into the unnatural death of the elder of the two minor girls in Walayar, suspended Walayar sub-inspector P.C. Chacko and launched a department-level inquiry against circle inspector Vipin Das and deputy superintendent of police who were associated with the investigation. The action by Thrissur range inspector-general M.R. Ajith Kumar was triggered by the report of Malappuram district police chief Debesh Kumar Behera which said the police had failed to invoke of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the case.
The investigation team had also failed to informing the revenue divisional officer during the initial stages of the investigation into the death of the elder of the siblings, Mr Behera said in his report submitted to Mr Kumar on Thursday. The police, meanwhile, recorded the arrest of Kallangadu Madhu and Shibu, who were taken into custody. Madhu is a close relative of the mother of the girls, aged 13 and 9 who were found dead inside their single-room-house in a span of 52 days.
Shibu, a native of Rajakkad in Idukki, is a close friend of the father of the children and has been staying in the single-room house of the siblings for the past eight years, police said. The duo has been booked under POCSO, abetment to suicide and SC/ST Atrocities Act. The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has directed IG-Thrissur to submit a comprehensive report on the death of the girls. It has also sought a report from district Child Welfare Committee and District Child Welfare Officer.