Thiruvananthapuram | The Kerala government on Monday appointed senior IPS officer Ravada A Chandrasekhar as the new state police chief.
The appointment of the 1991-batch IPS officer from Andhra Pradesh, currently on central deputation, has triggered differences of opinion within the ruling CPI(M) over murder charges he once faced in connection with the decades-old Koothuparamba police firing incident.
Five activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the Marxist party, were killed in police firing at Koothuparamba in 1994. The Kerala High Court quashed the murder charges framed against police officials, including Chandrasekhar, in 2012.
Prominent CPI(M) leader from Kannur, P Jayarajan, indirectly expressed displeasure, saying "the decision was administrative, not political." However, party state secretary M V Govindan backed the government's move, stating Chandrasekhar's appointment was based on merit.
Earlier in the day, a special cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to appoint Chandrasekhar to the top post, succeeding Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who retired on Monday.
"Ravada A Chandrasekhar, IPS, Special Director, Intelligence Bureau (on central deputation), is appointed as Director General of Police-cum-State Police Chief, Kerala," read the order.
The cabinet selected Chandrasekhar from a shortlist of senior officers recommended by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office.
Law and Order Additional Director General of police H Venkatesh will hold additional charge as DGP until Chandrasekhar assumes office.
Speaking to a TV channel, Chandrasekhar expressed happiness over his new posting and said his previous experience working in Kerala would be useful in the role.
Chandrasekhar was serving as Thalassery Assistant Superintendent of Police when the 1994 firing occurred.
Though Jayarajan refrained from directly criticising the appointment, he recounted the alleged police brutality against party cadres during the Koothuparamba incident, noting that Chandrasekhar was among the officers on duty at the time.
He reiterated that the appointment was an administrative decision based on merit.
Jayarajan pointed out that another shortlisted candidate, DGP Nitin Agarwal, had also faced allegations in the past, yet the government considered the officers' overall merit.
"The party only takes policy decisions. Administrative decisions are made by the government and the state cabinet," he said.
Govindan defended the appointment, stating that Chandrasekhar had neither been found guilty nor punished in the Koothuparamba case.
"The government chose him because he is suitable for the post. The party has no other concerns," Govindan said.
Party veteran E P Jayarajan and State Ports Minister V N Vasavan also supported the appointment, saying it was the government's prerogative.
Opposition Leader V D Satheesan said the police acted according to the situation in Koothuparamba.
"The police opened fire as a minister’s life was under threat. They acted as per the Police Act. What would have happened if the mob had killed the minister?" he asked.
The Koothuparamba firing took place in November 1994 during a DYFI protest against the then Cooperation Minister M V Raghavan, opposing self-financing educational institutions.
