Last Wednesday, O M Murphy (35), a Civil Police Officer at Kulamavu police station in Idukki district of Kerala, was arrested on the complaint that he followed a woman in a car and harassed her. Ajesh, another officer attached to the Advocate General’s Office at Ernakulam, who was with Murphy in the case, was also arrested this Tuesday.
The alleged misbehaviour occurred on Wednesday evening when the young woman, working in a private firm in Thodupuzha, got off the bus at the intersection of Karimanoor panchayat in Thodupuzha Taluk, bought groceries, and walked home.
According to the complaint, Muphy and Ajesh followed the lady in their car. When she reached a bridge, the car pulled in front of her and stopped. Murphy, sitting in the driver’s seat, made obscene gestures towards the woman.
The woman says that when Murphy suddenly exited the driver’s seat, she sensed trouble and ran to a nearby store. Murphy and Ajesh left when the people in the shop came out.
The girl went with her father and complained to the police. The nearby CCTV footage confirmed that the woman was followed in the policeman’s vehicle. Murphy and Ajesh were arrested after the victim identified them.
After receiving the complaint, a case was registered against the policeman. Murphy, a native of Peringassery, appeared at Karimanoor station yesterday. He was arrested and released on bail. Idukki District Police Chief TK Vishnu Pratheep IPS said CPO Murphy had been suspended.
The police said that the person with the policeman had not been identified. Allegations arose that he was an Advocate General’s Office employee, and the police did not release this matter or his name.
Initially, the police allegedly took the stance of protecting the accused. They said they could not identify the man in the car with the main accused, CPO Murphy. Ajesh was arrested and released on bail after the truth in this matter came to light.
The incident proved an embarrassment for Kerala Police. Are some civil servants moving towards anarchy in lawless Kerala?
