Thiruvananthapuram: A woman Deputy commissioner of Police (DCP) was transferred within hours after she conducted a raid at the CPM district committee office here late on Thursday.

DCP Chaitra Theresa John had raided the party office following a tip-off that the DYFI workers who pelted stones at the Medical College police station the previous night were hiding there. However, no one could be nabbed in the raid.

Chaitra, who had been given temporary charge after DCP R Adithya went on leave, was sent back to the Women’s Cell, while Adithya, whose leave was cancelled, was told to report to duty.

The Home Department has sought an explanation from the DCP with regard to the raid. The action was initiated as per the directions of the Chief Minister’s Office, it was learnt.

It was on Wednesday night that a 50-member gang of DYFI workers pelted stones at the Medical College station. A police team, led by the Chaitra, raided the CPM office at Mettukada on Thursday night based on information provided by the City Special Branch that the key accused in the stone-pelting incident was hiding there.

Party’s local leaders and workers, who were present in the area, attempted to stop the personnel and send them back. However, as the DCP stood firm and told them that she would not return without searching the office, they were forced to back down. The police believe that it was a strategy to distract them and facilitate the DYFI workers’ escape.

Subsequently, the CPM district leadership approached the party higher-ups and the Chief Minister’s Office seeking action against Chaitra.

The DYFI workers pelted stones at the station after police denied them permission to meet the two CPM activists who were arrested in connection with a case registered under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences act (POCSO).

Following the incident, cases were registered against as many as 50 DYFI and CPM functionaries including a senior party leader. There were allegations that the medical college police were helping the accused evade arrest. It was then the Special Branch filed a report stating that the party workers involved in the station attack were hiding in the CPM office in Mettukada.

Though some of the low-ranking officers advised Chaitra to reconsider her decision to raid the office, she refused to budge. Against their wishes, some of the personnel attached to the Medical College were also included in the search team.

Senior officers suspect that the information regarding the raid might have been leaked to the party leaders from the station itself. With the help of the Cyber Cell, the police have obtained the call detail record (CDR) of the officer who allegedly leaked the details of the police action to the party leaders, sources revealed.

Chaitra was given additional charge of DCP when R Adithya was sent on Sabarimala duty. The latter who was supposed to take charge on January 21 had availed a four-day leave after returning from Sabarimala.

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