P.K. Sreemathy slams police brutality against Dalit woman, backs suspension of SI but questions charges against CM office’s

Democratic Women’s Association leader condemns police cruelty towards Dalit woman, calls for justice and action against responsible officers.

All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) national president and CPI(M) leader P.K. Sreemathy has condemned the “mental torture” inflicted on a Dalit woman, Bindu, at the Peroorkada police station in Thiruvananthapuram, calling it “an example of police cruelty toward women”. She welcomed the suspension of Sub-Inspector Prasad for his role in the alleged harassment.

“No woman should be treated like this. Why do police officers show such cruelty to women?” she said, expressing concern over the treatment meted out to Bindu, a housemaid, who was detained and mentally harassed for over 20 hours on a false charge of theft.

Ms. Bindu, a native of Chullimanoor, said she was illegally held at the police station, stripped and searched and threatened with action against her daughters unless she confessed. Even after the necklace was recovered and the complainant family informed the police, she was not told and was instead warned to stay away.

Reacting to Ms. Bindu’s revelation that she faced humiliation at the Chief Minister’s office when she attempted to file a complaint, Ms. Sreemathy expressed doubts about the claim.

“I don’t think the CM’s office would treat Dalits like that. I know P. Sasi very well. He is not someone who would throw a complaint in the bin without reading it,” she said, referring to the official Ms. Bindu alleged had dismissed her complaint.

She added that Kerala is a State committed to social justice and highlighted the positive changes brought about by Janamaithri policing after Kodiyeri Balakrishnan became Home Minister.

“There was a time when complainants couldn’t even enter police station. Things changed, but such incidents show there is still a long way to go,” she said.