Kottayam (Kerala), Oct 31 (IANS) The special branch of Kerala police Friday launched a probe into media reports of a meeting of police officials held at the district office of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) here.”Once we get the report, then only we will decide what needs to be done,” Kottayam district police Superintendent Mathew Polikarp told IANS.

A meeting of nearly 40 police officials, including two women constables, of Kerala Police Association reportedly took place in the district headquarters of the CPI-M here 30th October 2008 (Thursday).

As soon as the word spread, media persons gathered in front of the party office. Sensing that their presence in the office of a political party would be a violation of the service rules, the police officials sneaked out of the building by the back door.

Later a scuffle broke out between the CPI-M workers and the media persons present at the CPI-M office. Peace was restored after the arrival of CPI-M legislator V.N. Vasavan and a top police official.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Oommen Chandy said this incident just shows that the police are hand-in-glove with the Left party.

“This was the first of the series of meetings that the party has planned in all the other 13 districts ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. This is a very grave issue of misuse of the police force. This is very serious,” Chandy told reporters.

Meanwhile, legislator P.C. George, whose Kerala Congress (Secular) was till recently with the Left government, blasted the blatant violation of rules.

“They were having classes by party leaders and I have listed out names of 13 of the 40 police constables who took part in the study class in the party office,” George told IANS.