Kerala govt suspends police officer for reporting to duty drunk during Amit Shah’s visit
Kochi (PTI): The Kerala government has suspended an Assistant Commandant of the Kerala Armed Police (KAP) Battalion for reporting to duty under the influence of alcohol during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state in August, police said on Sunday.
The officer, S Suresh Kumar of the KAP Battalion, had been deployed as officer-in-charge at the Kochi airport terminal when Shah arrived for a two-day visit on August 21.
However, senior officers found him intoxicated and immediately removed him from duty.
He was later taken to a government hospital in Angamaly, where medical examination confirmed alcohol consumption, police said.
Following the incident, the State Police Chief ordered an inquiry, and a report was recently submitted to the government.
Based on the findings, the government found grave misconduct on the part of the officer and ordered his suspension.
Suresh has also been directed to undergo an oral inquiry under the Kerala Police Department Inquiries, Punishment and Appeal Rules.
A committee comprising senior police officers will be appointed soon for the inquiry, officials added.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
