Kannur, 05 September (H.S.): A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has begun a fresh probe into the controversial case registered against KSU activists following a black-flag protest against former Minister Veena George at Kannur railway station.

The eight-member team is scheduled to hold its first meeting at 4 pm at Dharmasala in Kannur, the headquarters of the Kerala Armed Police Fourth Battalion. The investigation is headed by KAP Fourth Battalion Commandant U. Preman. Kannur ACP M.P. Azad and Railway Circle Inspector G.S. Saji are among the officers on the team.

The case stems from an incident on February 25, when Kerala Students Union activists waved black flags at Veena George at Kannur railway station. Following the protest, her gunman lodged a complaint alleging that the activists had arrived with deadly weapons and attempted to kill her.

Police subsequently booked five KSU activists, including Kannur district president M.C. Athul, under provisions that included attempt to murder. However, the attempt-to-murder charge was later dropped when the chargesheet was filed before the court, raising questions over why the serious charge had been invoked at the initial stage of the case.

The fresh investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the registration of the case and the subsequent removal of the attempt-to-murder charge. The SIT is also expected to record statements from former Minister Veena George and her gunman as part of the inquiry.

KSU had alleged that a high-level conspiracy was behind the decision to invoke an attempt-to-murder charge against its activists over what it described as a political protest. The organisation had questioned the basis on which the black-flag demonstration was initially treated as an attempt on Veena George’s life.

The SIT will examine the allegation of conspiracy along with the sequence of events at the railway station, the gunman’s complaint and the police action that followed. The findings of the fresh inquiry are expected to clarify how the original charges were framed and why one of the most serious charges was later withdrawn.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman