Thiruvananthapuram: Police officers, who engaged in a verbal spat with SFI activists in the state capital, are likely to face the heat after the police brass took exception to their behaviour. Amid the controversy, Cantonment SHO and CI Satheesh Kumar has gone on leave and SI Gokul Gopal was sent for training.The developments came after city police commissioner Arul R B Krishna summoned both officers and sought an explanation from them over the controversies involving SFI activists.Kumar has taken a day’s leave, while Gopal has been sent for Pocso-related training, said police sources. Narcotics CI Shafi, who was earlier the Cantonment SHO, has been given the station’s temporary charge.However, a report against the CI is being prepared for submission to senior officers, police sources said. The report is likely to point out that the officer failed to comply with rules for police personnel using social media, sources said. An inquiry against the SI is also likely, sources added.The two officers had come under scrutiny following a series of incidents involving SFI activists. The controversy began after police resorted to a lathicharge on students at a university hostel during a clash between SFI activists and Youth Congress workers.The controversy intensified after Gopal allegedly telephoned SFI district secretary Nandan and threatened him.CI Kumar’s Facebook post, in which he used the phrase “tell them that I got scared”, also triggered criticism. The post was interpreted in the context of the confrontation with SFI activists and became a subject of controversy.SFI activists later took out protest marches to the residences of both officers. Meanwhile, police conducted a search at Nandan’s residence, further escalating tensions between the organisation and police.SFI has been demanding action against the two officers over the lathicharge and the subsequent incidents. It has warned of launching an indefinite protest in front of the Cantonment police station if a decision isn’t taken against the officers by Oct 10.
