The removal of Rahul R. Nair as the District Police Chief on bribery charges on Tuesday has kicked up a row with various socio-environmental groups alleging high-level conspiracy behind the government action.
In a memorandum to State Police Chief K.S. Balasubramanian, Western Ghats Protection Council State convener M.G. Santhoshkumar called for a free and fair probe into the charges against the IPS officer.
Mr. Santhoshkumar alleged that there was every reason to suspect conspiracy against Mr. Nair who had taken strong measures to check illegal quarrying and smuggling of granite, earth, and sand from the district ever since he assumed charge.
According to him, many unauthorised quarries in the district were facing closure following the uncompromising stand adopted by the officer. Mr. Nair had directed the police to register a case under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code against the owner of the Kunnida granite quarry in Enadimangalam panchayat following the death of two workers.
It was Mr. Nair who had stopped the functioning of an illegal brick-making unit at Mannady, near Adoor, following the death of three workers in an accident a month ago. The police had raided one of the largest granite quarries in the State at Vadasserikkara and seized an unauthorised stock of 32 kg explosives from there on May 2. There are also allegations that the quarry which was closed on the directives of the officer was opened after a top police official intervened, the memorandum alleged.
In a statement here on Wednesday, V.N. Gopinatha Pillai, Kerala River Protection Council State vice-president, who had moved the Kerala High Court against illegal granite quarrying in the district, too demanded an impartial probe into the issue.
Mr. Pillai said the manager of the Shamio Granites at Ponmala in Thottappuzhassery panchayat had already denied any kind money transaction having taken place for reopening the quarry which was closed by the Koipram police on May 1.
