Kerala boat tragedy: State police constitutes special team; murder charge against vessel owner
Malappuram district police chief Sujith Das S, who is heading a special investigation team constituted to probe the incident, said the arrest of the accused was recorded and he would be produced before a local court within 24 hours.
FollowKerala Police on Tuesday (May 9) said that murder charge has been slapped against the owner of the boat, who was caught from nearby Kozhikode. This comes two days after a fatal boat mishap that had claimed 22 lives in this north Kerala district.
Malappuram district police chief Sujith Das S, who is heading a special investigation team constituted to probe the incident, said the arrest of the accused was recorded and he would be produced before a local court within 24 hours.
The owner was facing charges of operating the vessel without a licence. Talking to reporters, Das said IPC Section 302 has been slapped against the boat owner and the investigation is progressing considering it as a murder case.
Karnataka Election 2023: Lost your Voter ID card? Use these documents to cast your vote
"So, we will submit a report in the court as an offence under IPC 302," the officer said. He said the police are yet to confirm the total number of staff, who were present in the boat when tragedy struck the vessel.
"Its driver, Dineshan, is absconding. We are trying to get more details about the other employees from the owner. Their arrest will be made in the coming days," the DCP added. The boat owner was cooperating with the investigation completely, he said.
Rejecting the criticism against the police from some quarters in connection with the mishap, Das said the operation of such boats come under the Port Department as per the Kerala Inland Vessels Act.
Karnataka Election 2023: CM Bommai recites 'Hanuman Chalisa' in Hubballi - WATCH
Seeking to examine the damaged boat, assistance of an expert team from Cochin University would be sought and a request would be given in this regard soon, the officer added.
Earlier in the day, sate police chief Anil Kant issued an order constituting a special team to investigate into the mishap which had claimed 22 lives in Tanur area of Malappuram district on Sunday evening.
Sujith Das S would head the team, in which Tanur DYSP V V Benny, Tanur station house officer Jeevan George and Kondotty ASP Vijay Bharat Reddy would be the members, an official statement said.
The probe would be held under the direct supervision of Neeraj Kumar Gupta, IG, North Zone, it said. The DGP directed to complete the probe and submit the report at the earliest, the statement added.
Karnataka Election 2023: Political parties not to bring voters in vehicles; here's why
While announcing a judicial probe into the tragedy on Monday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also said that a special investigation team of the Kerala police would also probe the matter.
The boat capsized near an estuary close to the Thoovaltheeram beach in Tanur area at 7.30 pm on Sunday.
According to district officials, 15 of the deceased were minors aged eight months to 17 years and there were 37 persons onboard the ill-fated boat.
(With inputs from PTI)
