Jishnu Pranoy death: Crime Branch to probe police excess

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has ordered a Crime Branch probe into the alleged police excess on the family members of engineering student Jishnu Prannoy near the police headquarters on Wednesday last. ADGP (Crimes) Nithin Agarwal has been entrusted with the probe. The probe was ordered in the backdrop of an assurance given by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to Jishnu's mother Mahija on Sunday that action would be taken if it was found that there was  lapse by any police official. The probe would examine whether there was any police excess, whether the allegations that Mahija was dragged or booted by police, whether any conspiracy was involved in the incident and whether there was any police lapse  in dealing with the family.

Mahija and her brother Sreejith alleged  police excess towards them while preventing them from proceeding to the police headquarters. Action against the police officials was one of the demands raised by them during their hunger strike. Though Thiruvananthapuram-range IG Manoj Abraham had given an inquiry report justifying the police action, the government decided to go for a detailed probe considering the strong demand from the family. Even  Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier justified the police action. These had invited widespread resentment.