Kochi: A petition has been filed in the Kerala High Court seeking a CBI or Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the alleged police harassment of residents who protested against the Fresh Cut Poultry waste treatment plant at Kattippara near Thamarassery.
The plea, submitted by M. Sheeja, an elected representative of the Omassery panchayat, accuses the police of excessive force and intimidation during and after the protest. The bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath has issued notices to both the state and central governments, as well as to the owners of the waste treatment plant. The matter has been posted for further hearing on December 2.
Allegations in the Petition
- The petitioner claims that despite the Environmental Engineer, Kozhikode, informing Fresh Cut officials on April 28 that the plant’s consent to operate could not be renewed due to pollution concerns, the District Level Facilitation and Monitoring Committee nevertheless illegally extended the plant’s operational period.
- Sheeja alleges that police resorted to lathi charge and even used hand grenades against protesters on October 21. According to the petition, women and children were among those “mercilessly beaten.”
- Following the protest, police reportedly registered cases against 300 unnamed but identifiable persons, creating fear among residents.
- The petition further claims that police personnel are now entering homes at odd hours, allegedly under the pretext of searching for accused individuals, and are threatening local women and children.
The High Court will evaluate these allegations when the case comes up next month.