IT seems that the CPI-M in the state had egg on its face, the reason for having supported a notorious police officer, Tomin J Thachankery serving Inspector General of Kerala Police, who is reported to have met some accomplices of the dreaded Islamist terror operative Thadiyantavida Naseer.
A detailed letter signed by the Under Secretary in the Home Department K Natarajan explains how the IG had reached the Arab Emirate of Qatar and have had meetings with certain people who were considered to be the associates of the dreaded Islamic terror operative and South Indian commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Ironically the IG is now under suspension for having visited foreign countries without taking prior permission from the higher authorities in the State Government. There were reports in the media that Tomin Thachankery was on a visit to Dubai and other emirates prior to the visit of the CPI-M state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan who was in the Emirates for a fund mobilising drive. While Tomin and the CPI-M top brass have denied this, highly placed sources had clearly indicated that Tomin was indeed in Dubai for the fund mobilising drive.
The CPI-M state leadership was instrumental in giving the post of North Zone IG to an officer like Tomin J Thachankery whose service record itself shows his shady dealings unbecoming of a police officer. Thachankery who has a music studio “Riyan” jointly owned by his wife had made several attempts to scuttle a raid by the antipiracy squad of the state police led by a honest IPS officer Rishi Raj Singh. There were reports that most of the CD’s produced from this studio were forged and copied violating the antipiracy law.
Another irony is that Tomin was indeed given the charge of antipiracy cell in the state police in addition to the post of IG north zone in charge of law and order. There were also several police and intelligence reports indicting him in various cases which were criminal in nature including smuggling of costly electronic equipments from Singapore and Malaysia and passing it through Nedumbassery airport in Kochi. Once his driver was apprehended and there were also reports of him possessing multiple passports.
Interestingly Tomin J Thachankery who by actions over his service in the state police had proved that he had an expertise on criminal matters mind in him was given charge to interrogate the dreaded criminals, Thadiyantavida Nasser and his accomplice Shahbas after they were taken into custody by the Bangladesh police and brought to Bangalore.
Thachankery went to Bangalore and interrogated both the terrorists and there was a hue and cry in the state as to why he was given the charge of such a sensitive case.
According to the letter written by the Union Home Ministry to the Chief Secretary of the State, there are indications that he had met some people who were directly connected with the terror operations of Thadiyantavida Naseer. The Home Ministry has also written that the Indian Ambassador to Qatar had asked Thachankery as to whether he had got the mandatory clearance from the state and central government departments before embarking on such a trip to a foreign country to question suspects. Thachankery, according to the letter has told the Ambassador that in criminal cases it was not possible to take clearances before each and every trip.
Highly placed sources in the Union Home Ministry told this reporter that Thachankery had in fact struck a deal with these terror operatives in the Emirates of Qatar for monetary benefits and that it was he who was instrumental in the surrender of Shammi Feroz who is an accused in the twin blast cases of Kozhikode. Shammi Feroz is now under judicial custody and he has reported that he would be a prosecution witness. Sources told this reporter that Thachankery had settled this deal for a huge amount.
The Chief Minister, VS Achuthanandan has taken a strong stand against this erring police officer several times including when he was given the charge to interrogate Naseer and Shahbas. However the powerful official faction in the CPI-M of which the State Home Minister is a part, rolled over his opposition. Armed with the letter from the Union Home Ministry Achuthanandan has started pointing his gun towards Thachankery and sources indicated that the state Chief Secretary has sent a detailed letter to the Union Home Ministry to conduct a detailed investigation into the actions of Thachankery since he joined the service in 1987.
This, according to sources close to the Chief Minister is to teach the CPI-M leadership a lesson and to try and seal his position as a fighter for justice in the Kerala society.
Sources also indicated that Achuthanandan may try to remove Thachankery from the IPS and to try and conduct a criminal case against him which would ultimately boost the image of the Chief Minister once more as a person who fights for truth and justice in the society. This, according to the spin doctors in the Chief Minister’s camp would also take away the bad publicity which the Chief Minister had faced as a power hungry person sticking to his chair while his close associates are being systematically removed from the party positions only because of the reason for their association and closeness to the Chief Minister.
In fact Thachankery and his actions which are totally unbecoming of a police officer would restart another round of power struggle in an already beleaguered CPI-M of the state with the octogenarian leader Achuthanandan on the one side and the party official faction led by the party state secretary and politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan on the other side. With Achuthanandan trying to project an image of the person who speaks up for the people of the state in such sensitive issues like a police officer roaming around the globe without prior permission and meeting dreaded criminals, there is nothing much to do for the opposite faction in the party as the Home Ministry is led by the party politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. This, according to sources, is the one single reason why the Chief Minister is keen to expose Thachankery.
