Special Investigation Team To Probe Kerala Boat Accident That Killed 22

Kerala Director-General of Police (DGP) Anil Kant today ordered the formation of a Special Investigative team to probe the recent Tanur boat capsize tragedy, in which 22 people were killed.

The special probe team, presided over by Malappuram District Police Chief Sujit Das S is led by Tanur Deputy Superintendent of Police (DYSP) V V Benni and comprising Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kondotti Vijaya Bharat Reddy and Tanur Station House Officer Jeevan George.

The investigation will be done under the direct supervision of IG, North Zone, Neeraj Kumar Gupta.

The State police chief has directed to complete the investigation and submit the report as soon as possible.

Twenty-two people, including a police officer, were killed after an overloaded double-decker tourist boat capsized at Parappanangadi on Sunday evening.

Earlier today, the Division Bench of the Kerala High Court expressed shock over the mishap.

The court made the observation after initiating a suo motu case into the matter. The High Court also directed the Malappuram District Collector to file a report on May 12.

The Court also sought the details of the port officer in charge of the area.

The court also criticised the Kerala Government for its inaction against officers responsible for the tragic boat incidents. "Why there is no action against them," the court asked.

The Division Bench headed by Justice Devan Ramachandran observed, "This is not the first time. There would be some investigation or recommendations whenever there is an incident like this. Everything is forgotten. It's happening again. People die. Nobody is responsible, except the operator. Who is in charge of inland navigation?"

"We do not know the details. We are proposing to initiate action. Some crime is registered. This has been done in this case also. But no operator can do all this on his own. It's all because some support is received, either deliberately or otherwise. We have to come to the route of the problem. It's shocking to see so many deaths and that too in a State like Kerala. Who is the port officer in that area?" the bench said further.

"There was no one to monitor even the police. Why? Our endeavour is to ensure that this will not happen in the future. Every time large lives are lost. Our heart is bleeding as several children died," it said.

"Mahakavi Kumaranasan died by drowning, when Redeemer, the boat he was travelling capsized in River Pallana in 1924. Similar incidents are still happening. How many more will have to see?" the bench added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)