Police escort to convict kicks up a row

THODUPUZHA: The Kalamassery AR Camp Police have kicked up a controversy after they allegedly took a convict sentenced to life imprisonment in a private car here without handcuffs.
The police allegedly let Chembakapara Marukkattu Madhu, 47, travel in the car in which the latter’s relatives had come to the district and sessions court for completing some formalities.
After that, the police accompanied the convict in a car to a nearby hotel to have food. He was later taken to the Poojapura Central Jail.
Madhu was convicted for murdering Shaji Mathew of Udumbanchola. He was under custody in the Muvattupuzha sub-jail. The Kalamassery AR Camp was answerable on the issue, according to top police sources in Idukki. When contacted, top officials in Kalamassery AR Camp failed to give a convincing reply.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the police have taken up the matter seriously and an investigation into the issue  has been ordered.