Police let down by please-all Kodiyeri

Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express

T’Puram, Aug 17

As the days long drama over the arrest of PDP chairman Abdul Nazir
Madhani draws to a close, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has once again proved
beyond doubt that he is an intelligent politician but not a good Home
Minister as he protects his party’s interests at the cost of the
morale of the police force that he leads.

At the end of the day, Kodiyeri is able to please both his party
bosses as well as ‘vote bank friend’ Madhani as Madhani surrendered
and the police arrested him. Had the police gate crashed into
Anwarserri and facilitate the arrest of Madhani, it would have become
another opportunity for the Opposition UDF to shed crocodile tears in
the name of Madhani and there by attack the CPM-led LDF.

Kodiyeri has indeed shown the way to all politicians how to turn an
issue in government’s favour, which would have otherwise caused a
major embarrassment to the government as well as the ruling party.
Madhani, during the press conference on Tuesday, has even expressed
his gratitude to the CPM openly. “I am thankful to the Government that
no force was used inside Anwarserri, not due to any political favours
by CPM, but due to their social responsibility, ‘’ Madhani said.

While Kodiyeri celebrates his political victory, Kerala Police is neck
deep in shame as they had to wait at the gate of a terror accused for
72 hours, that too armed with enough gadgets. And, finally when they
entered, it was indeed an invitation from the PDP leadership rather
than a go ahead sign from their higher ups.

Late on Monday night there were reports quoting the Home Minister that
Madhani would surrender on Tuesday afternoon. While addressing the
press on Tuesday Madhani said that the date, time and venue of arrest
were decided only by late on Monday night. Doesn’t it reveal the
high-level understandings that have been arrived at behind the
curtains during the late hours on Monday? Thanks to the political
under currents.

On August 14, a police team led by Kollam SP Harshitha Attaluri made
the first move towards Anwarserri and she could even reach up to the
gate. It is said that the SP then received a message and there the
police action became calm. Since then the police had enough
opportunity to enter Awarserri and execute the arrest. Even as Madhani
reiterated that he would not resist an arrest, the police did not
received the go ahead from the higher ups due to unkown reasons. The
tops police officers of the State were mumbling for words in front of
their Karnataka counter parts on Monday morning as they have to
withdraw from a move to arrest Madhani in the last minute due to the
ed flag shown by their political bosses.

The developments over the last couple of days had indeed substantiated
the allegation of Karanataka Home Minister V.S.Acharya that the Kerala
Police do not cooperate in nabbing criminals.

While the ‘so called arrest’ of Madhani took place, it could be heard
one police constable telling the other: “Madhani decides when he
should be arrested. Anyway we are relieved”.

ends.