According to Congress leaders, the situation escalated when officers attempted to inspect the room of a female leader without a female officer present, raising concerns over protocol and respect for privacy.
Published Nov 06, 2024 | 10:57 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 06, 2024 | 10:57 AM
Police search Congress leaders hotel rooms in Palakkad. (Screengrab)
Political tensions flared in Kerala’s Palakkad Assembly Constituency in the wee hours of Wednesday, 6 November, following a controversial police search at hotel rooms occupied by Congress women leaders, Bindu Krishna and Shanimol Usman, ahead of the 20 November by-election.
The search, conducted around midnight as part of a routine operation to curb black money influence during the election, led to immediate protests from Congress supporters who accused police of bias.
According to Congress leaders, the situation escalated when officers attempted to inspect the room of a female leader without a female officer present, raising concerns over protocol and respect for privacy.
Congress MPs VK Sreekandan and Shafi Parambil criticised the operation as a targeted attempt to disrupt their campaign efforts. “This is an unprecedented intrusion,” Sreekandan said.
Police confirmed that 12 rooms, including those of leaders from multiple parties, were searched as a preventive measure, but no illicit funds or materials were found. They defended the operation as a standard election practice aimed at preventing any malpractice.
The incident has also drawn responses from leaders across party lines. CPM-led LDF representatives arrived at the hotel and demanded a thorough review of its CCTV footage to ensure transparency, while BJP leaders raised similar concerns.
Congress, however, alleged a larger conspiracy as they pointed out that the inspection was a farce as CPI(M), and BJP workers gathered in front of the hotel.
According to Shafi Parambil, the police had not followed the standard protocol while conducting the inspection. He also alleged that the police personnel desisted to hand over a statement mentioning what they got, and didn’t get during the search.
Soon after, Congress announced a protest march to the district police chief’s office on Wednesday at 11 am.
KPCC general secretary in charge of organization M Liju also announced that protests will be held at district headquarters across the state under the leadership of respective DCCs.
KPCC president K Sudhakaran alleged that the police raid was due to fear of failure. He also alleged that it was planned by the BJP and the CPI (M).
“There has never been such a heinous incident in the history of Kerala’s political elections. On what basis did the police enter the rooms of women leaders for a raid without women police? Shanimol Usman and Bindu Krishna are well-known women leaders. The police humiliated them. The police behaved as if they were criminals,” said Sudhakaran.
He further added, “The police, who initially said that the inspection was based on a complaint, later changed it to an inspection. The police could not find anything illegal during the inspection. The police came for the inspection without ID cards and the presence of a woman police officer.”
“It is no coincidence that the leaders of the CPI (M) and BJP came there jointly when the police arrived for the raid. The police did not inspect the rooms of the leaders of CPI (M) and BJP. There is definitely a conspiracy behind this.”
Meanwhile, CPI (M) and BJP leaders alleged that Rahul Mamkootathil was present in the hotel. Reacting to the allegations, UDF candidate Rahul posted a video on his Facebook page where he was seen standing in front of a police station in Kozhikode.
In the video, he stated, “Now it’s 2.25 am. At Palakkad, a tense situation is there. The video footage coming from there shows BJP and CPI (M) saying that I am there at the hotel. Unfortunately for them, I am now in Kozhikode. I am here to meet All India Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar. I had an appointment with him. They could verify that.”
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
