DCP told them not to spare me: CPM leader A A Rahim

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “The first hit was on my head and I could hear DCP Rajpal Meena ordering cops not to leave me. They were around ten and their main target was my head,” recollects young CPM leader A.A. Rahim about the police assault on him at University College here in 2011. Rahim was bed ridden for months and still suffers disability in his left index finger and left thigh. “I had covered my head with both palms to resist the attack. Hence my fingers got hurt in the attack," he said.

Even while condemning the police brutality towards agitators, Rahim maintained that the present LDF government is quite particular that agitations should be suppressed using force. Rahim, who was then SFI state vice-president, said the police attack on him was very dubious as he had gone to the college to disperse some SFI and DYFI activists who allegedly pelted stones at police. He is now fighting a civil suit against Rajpal Meena, present Wayanad district police chief, and few other police officials in this regard.

Former SFI activist Sindhu Joy, who suffered serious leg injury in police grenade attack on stir against self-finance engineering colleges, feels that the live media coverage of agitations had brought some relief to the agitators from police brutality. "During our days, policemen used extreme force even at girl activists. On seeing the visuals of police actions these days, I feel that the intensity of police brutality came down compared to those during the early years. Thanks to live media coverage," said Sindhu, who has had multiple surgeries and is crutch-dependent for about two years.