Kozhikode Town Sub Inspector P M Vimod was on Saturday suspended, pending an enquiry, after he once again entered into a fracas with media personnel.
DGP Loknath Behara told reporters here that the official was suspended pending an enquiry.
The incident occurred when media personnel had gone to the police station to take back the vehicle of a television channel, which was confiscated by police.
The police officer reportedly used foul language at media personnel and when they protested, allegedly entered into a scuffle with them and dragged some of them inside the police station and locked them up, media personnel alleged.
Earlier in the day, the SI had prevented three media personnel from covering a case at the district court stating he was acting on the instructions of the district magistrate.
However, the magistrate informed Kerala High court Registrar that he had not given any such instructions.
The officer took the three media personnel to the police station in the police jeep and kept them there for some time.
As media personnel protested, the three were allowed to leave.
Media personnel took out rallies at Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Delhi, protesting against the incident.
The DGP had sought a report to find out if there was any “high handedness” on part of the Sub Inspector.
DGP Behara said “responsible officers should not behave in this manner. What I saw on Television, I was unhappy. The SI has done a mistake. There is nothing for me to justify.”
Asked if a case would be registered against the SI and if he would be arrested, the DGP said he had not received any formal complaint of assault from media personnel so far.
“You are saying an assault took place. I have not received any complaint so far,” he said, adding he was very sad with the development.
“The arrest can happen if there is a criminal case. Now prima facie there was a misconduct,” he said, adding suspension was a prima facie procedure before taking departmental action.
