Thiruvananthapuram: The rage of a car owner against a security officer played out again in Kerala on Monday, when a guard was assaulted at Punkunnam near Thrissur.
The incident happened on Monday morning when a 78-year-old guard, identified as Achuthan Nair, asked one Sujith, who had parked his car near the parking lot in front of the gate, to move the vehicle from there. The car owner reportedly attacked Nair, who was later admitted to hospital with a fractured arm.
Sujith is accused of assaulting the guard by holding his neck and pushing him. Local police have registered a case in connection with the incident. Police are looking for Sujith.
Nair has been a security guard for nearly 15 years.
The case brought back memories of the death of another security guard in Thrissur, Chandrabose, after he was fatally assaulted by businessman Mohammad Nisham, who first rammed the guard with his Hummer car. Incidentally, Sujith who is accused of assaulting the security guard at Punkunnam is also a young businessman.
Police have taken the statement of Achuthan Nair, and spoken to his son and other family members. Police came under sharp criticism in the Chandrabose murder case, because Chandrabose’s statement was not recorded despite the fact that he was in a conscious state in the hospital for the first few days.
Following Chandrabose’s murder, local organisations had called for better protection for the security guards who faced the wrath of apartment owners at residential complexes, as well as those deployed for security in other buildings.
Nisham was charged under the Kerala Anti-social Activities Prevention Act and is presently in jail after his bail plea was turned down. Nisham’s lawyer has sought the release of Hummer car, but the prosecution has said it will contest that request, pointing out that the vehicle which was used to knock Chandrabose down, had to considered a weapon that was used to inflict injury on the victim.
