Protesters in Thrissur, Kerala, marched to the Chalakudy DSP office to demand action against the Station House Officer (SHO) of Athirappilly police station. The protest was in response to the 'illegal' arrest of Roobinlal, a news channel journalist. The protesters, including social activists, environmentalists, and human rights activists, alleged that Roobinlal was arrested without informing his mother and was made to stand in his underwear while in custody. They also demanded action against beat forest guard Jackson Francis for filing a 'false' case against Roobinlal. Roobinlal was arrested after recording and telecasting a video of an injured wild boar. The protest was supported by tribal organizations and social media groups. The march took place on May 31, 2024 [76b1ffb7].
The Station House Officer (SHO) of Athirappilli, Andric Gromic G, has been suspended for the arrest of activist-journalist Roobinlal. The suspension order was issued by North Zone IG K Sethuraman, who stated that the SHO had engaged in dereliction of duty, official misconduct, and an unprofessional approach. The SHO is accused of causing irreparable damage to Roobinlal's mobile phone and not following proper arrest procedures. Protests have taken place demanding a fresh inquiry into the case against Roobinlal, and the case has been transferred to the crime branch DSP. The leaders of the protests have welcomed the orders but continue to demand action against all those involved in the conspiracy to arrest Roobinlal. Roobinlal was arrested on May 26 for allegedly encroaching into forest areas and recording and telecasting an injured wild boar. The forest officials had filed complaints against him [281ac966] [76b1ffb7].
The Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance against the Pantheerankavu police in Kozhikode, Kerala, for alleged lapses in handling a domestic violence complaint filed by a newly married woman. The woman faced brutal torture from her husband shortly after their marriage on May 5. The domestic violence came to light when her family noticed bruises on her body. She revealed that her husband attacked her and attempted to strangle her with a mobile charging cable. A case of attempted murder has been registered against the woman's husband. The woman's family filed a complaint against her husband, and she decided to end her marriage. However, the family accused the police of being reluctant to register a case against the husband and intentionally omitting attempted murder charges. The Station House Officer (SHO) did not promptly address the complaint [fa2dd53a] [pd.co.ke].
In response to the alleged lapses by the police, the Human Rights Commission has directed the city police Commissioner to investigate the matter and submit a report within 15 days. The woman's father has also requested the replacement of the Circle Inspector handling the case and suggested moving the proceedings to Paravur [fa2dd53a] [pd.co.ke].
Miriam Atieno Okello, a domestic worker in Nairobi, Kenya, has accused the Kilimani Police Station of failing to conduct speedy and impartial investigations into the assault she suffered. She claims to have been assaulted by Ibrahim Hussein Omar, the Personal Assistant to the East Africa Affairs Principal Secretary, and his brother Ali Hussein Omar, an employee of Kenya Power. Okello sought medical attention at Maria Immaculata Hospital and reported the matter at Kilimani police station. Kilimani Sub-County Police Commander Moss Ndhiwa confirmed the case was reported and that one of the suspects, Ibrahim, has been summoned and grilled over the matter. The victim's lawyer and a group of human rights defenders have petitioned the Nairobi police commander to intervene and expedite the case. The victim's lawyer has also written to the police headquarters and the employers of the two suspects, demanding comprehensive investigations into the matter. The victim alleges that the police have been slow in taking action on the accused. She claims that the two assaulted, tortured, and insulted her under the guise of a family dispute, and then forcibly ejected her from the premises and confiscated her personal belongings [pd.co.ke].
The cases of domestic violence in Kozhikode and Nairobi highlight the importance of prompt and effective action by law enforcement agencies in handling such complaints. The alleged lapses by the police in these cases underscore the need for accountability and proper investigation to ensure justice for victims of domestic violence [fa2dd53a] [934b4b15] [pd.co.ke].
Businessmen and industrialists in Karachi are demanding action against rising crime rates, including target killings, street crimes, and armed robberies. They have appealed to the army chief, prime minister, and Sindh chief minister to take immediate action and arrest the criminals behind the killings within 72 hours. If no action is taken, they threaten to launch a protest movement, including a sit-in and strike. The law and order situation in Karachi has been deteriorating, with numerous murders of businessmen, industrialists, students, and common people. The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) president expressed concern over the performance of law enforcement agencies, particularly the police and Rangers. According to available data, 163 people were killed in Karachi from February to April 2024, and the number is expected to increase. Representatives of seven industrial zones expressed their anger at the lawlessness in the city, which has led to the closure of businesses and flight of capital. They called for serious action against the killings and street crimes to restore peace in Karachi [78440fe8].
The Kano State Police Command has appealed to the media for support in navigating the complex emirship tussle in the state. The Commissioner of Police, Mr Usaini Gumel, revealed that the command has received five different Court orders regarding the emirship dispute and has forwarded them to the Minister of Justice for interpretation. The conflicting court directives have created a complex situation, and the police are awaiting guidance on which order to comply with. The Commissioner of Police emphasized the need for more support from media organizations in reporting events, especially in the emirship tussle. He encouraged the media to seek clarifications from the police before publishing reports to ensure accuracy and avoid aggravating the situation [6f68fec9] [Freedom Online].
London police officers who want to travel internationally for training will have to jump through more administrative hoops before they get approval. The London Police Services Board will be asked to approve a new international travel policy, created after several members of the Emergency Response Unit were sent to Dubai for the UAE SWAT Challenge in February. The trip saw the officers competing against international teams, including a Chechen special forces group accused of human rights atrocities in Ukraine. The new policy will require officers to consult with Global Affairs Canada and experts at Western University to learn about international affairs and geopolitics. They will also have to fill out a risk assessment questionnaire. The trip cost about $16,000 and was approved by the police chief [7d18eddd].
The Metropolitan Police have been accused of using human rights legislation to block anti-monarchy protests at Trooping the Colour. Anti-monarchy group Republic claimed that the police cited the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as justification for closing down nearby protests. Republic argued that this was based on the 'spurious grounds' that a protest would deny spectators the right to enjoy the parade, stating that human rights legislation 'does not provide a right to enjoy a day out'. The police allegedly insisted that the protest be moved to a location out of sight of the parade and media. Republic accused the police of appearing to enforce the wishes of Royal Parks, who allegedly want to ban all protests outside Buckingham Palace. Republic CEO Graham Smith called this a 'serious affront to democratic rights' and called on all parties fighting the election to guarantee protection of peaceful protest [0d4d8a12].
The Surrey Police force in the UK is under scrutiny after officers were filmed ramming a runaway cow with their car. The incident occurred in Staines-upon-Thames, just outside London. The cow had been running at members of the public and damaging a car. After several hours of attempting to catch the animal, the decision was made to stop it using a police car. Footage on social media shows the cow being hit by the car, getting up, and then being hit again. The cow sustained a large cut to its leg and is being treated by a vet. The incident has drawn anger from animal lovers and the RSPCA plans to contact the police. The Surrey Police force has referred itself to the police ethics watchdog and notified the Independent Office of Police Conduct for investigation [fcb81c8a].
In Wayanad, Kerala, a problem tiger known as Tholppetty 7, which had been causing terror by killing four cows in two days, has been captured by the forest department. The tiger fell into a trap set by the forest department at the house of Kizhakkeyil Sabu. After a preliminary examination, the tiger was shifted to the Irulam forest office premises and will undergo a thorough medical examination before being transferred to animal care facilities. The tiger had visited the stable of Maliyekkal Benny on Sunday night and killed two cows. The forest department personnel fired rubber bullets at the tiger to scare it away. The Rapid Response Team (RRT) was on surveillance throughout the night. Farmers and local residents had staged a protest demanding action to capture the tiger. Forest Minister A K Saseendran directed wildlife officials to take necessary steps to capture the tiger, and compensation will be provided to farmers who lost cows in the tiger attack [fc3801b3].
Two men, both 19, were arrested on June 21 on a public road within Oprah Winfrey's ranch in Kula, Hawaii. They are suspected of illegal night hunting. Although they were not caught actively hunting, officers found a loaded shotgun and a loaded rifle in their truck. The men were arrested on suspicion of hunting on private lands without permission, not having a hunting license, and other violations. One of them was also arrested for possessing an unregistered semi-automatic rifle. The Maui County prosecutors will review the case and determine if charges will be filed. The men were released pending investigation. Winfrey's production company, Harpo, stated that the arrests did not happen on the property. [fc7c14c3]