Cops suspended for attending Pereira's party

ALAPPUZHA: Eleven police officers, including Alappuzha DySP K Maheshkumar, an SI and an ASI, were suspended on Thursday for attending a feast hosted by Captain Gordon Charles Pereira.
Pereira is the captain of MV Prabhudaya, the ship that was involved in the mid-sea collision with a fishing boat off the Alappuzha coast on March 1, which claimed the lives of five fishermen. Pereira is the second accused in the case.
After the captain was released on bail, he threw a party for the police personnel at the DySP office on Easter eve. A writer at the station was suspended after an inquiry.
There were allegations that higher police officials were also involved in the feast.
According to the report submitted by the district police officials to the Home Department, food prepared at a constable’s house was served in the DySP office. But a detailed inquiry by the Special Branch found that it was the captain who supplied the food and liquor at the DySP office.Based on the inquiry report, Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan issued suspension orders on Thursday night. The feast given by Pereira was in violation of the direction of the court, legal experts said.