A suspended police gunman, Anil Kumar, was seen standing guard outside Kerala Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan’s residence in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, even after being suspended from service. The incident occurred while ED officials were inside conducting a search and recording Vijayan’s statement, sparking outrage over the defiance of police orders.
The state police chief had suspended Anil Kumar and four other officers for their alleged involvement in the assault on MLA Thomas during a previous protest. Despite the suspension, Kumar was spotted wearing a black t-shirt and pants, standing at the gate of Vijayan’s residence. This act is seen as a direct challenge to the DGP’s authority and has been widely condemned as a brazen display of muscle power. The DGP is expected to take further action against the suspended officer.