The protesters pushed open the gate of the DGP's residence in Thiruvananthapuram, and tried to move forward, raising slogans.
Published Dec 16, 2023 | 7:03 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 16, 2023 | 7:03 PM
The Mahila Morcha protestors in Thiruvananthapuram. (Screengrab)
Activists of the Mahila Morcha — the women’s wing of the BJP — on Saturday, 16 December, barged into the premises of the official residence of Kerala DGP Sheikh Darvesh Sahib in Thiruvananthapuram, alleging lapses in the police probe into the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in Vandiperiyar in Idukki.
A fast-track special court for the trial of offences under the POCSO Act acquitted the accused on Thursday, saying that the “prosecution failed to establish all the circumstances which are consistent with the guilt of the accused and inconsistent with his innocence.”
The protesters pushed open the gate of the DGP’s residence, located in Vazhuthacaud in Thiruvananthapuram, and tried to move forward, raising slogans.
Though police personnel, who were on duty at the official residence, blocked them, the Mahila Morcha activists were not ready to withdraw and continued their sloganeering.
Later, women police personnel from the nearby station rushed to the spot and removed them by force. The DGP was reportedly present at the house when the protest incident happened.
While being shifted to the vehicle, the protesters could be seen asking the women police personnel to support them to get justice for the hapless girl who was raped and killed.
Mahila Morcha's protest against Kerala Police's nefarious action, which prepared a loophole for the escape of aDYFI leader who raped and killed a child in Vandiperiyar, Kerala is in conflict.@BJPMahilaMorcha @VanathiBJP@JPNadda @BJP4India pic.twitter.com/oBVJoueNZ0
— BJP Mahila Morcha Kerala (@BJMM4Kerala) December 16, 2023
The arrest of the Mahila Morcha activists was recorded, the Museum Police said.
After the acquittal of the accused, Opposition parties and their outfits came out criticising the police alleging lapses in their investigation.
Soon after the verdict, the Kerala police said that they would go for an appeal in the case.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had, on Friday, said that the acquittal of the accused was not something the state could be proud of.
Addressing the media as part of the state government’s outreach programme, Nava Kerala Sadas, in Alappuzha, Vijayan said that the acquittal was serious and that the government would investigate and take necessary action.
“This is not something that our state can be proud of. It’s a serious matter, and we will look into it and take necessary action. We have already decided to file an appeal. The court has also made certain observations, and such matters will be considered,” Vijayan said.
His statement came amid mounting criticism from the Opposition that the state government and the police failed to provide the necessary evidence to prove the guilt.
Launching a scathing attack on the government, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, VD Satheesan, said the verdict was “shocking and disappointing”.
“The judgement clearly highlights the mistakes made by the investigating officer, with the judge pointing out numerous faults. The investigating officer did not even bother to reach the crime scene on the day of the incident. The prosecution failed to present any clear evidence, and the evidence provided was contradictory,” Satheesan alleged.
He said that the police failed to gather the necessary evidence.
The fast-track special court at Idukki for the trial of offences under the POCSO Act had, on Thursday, acquitted the accused — Arjun — saying that the “prosecution failed to establish all the circumstances which are consistent with the guilt of the accused and inconsistent with his innocence”.
The girl was found hanging inside her house on 30 June 2021 when her parents went out to work in a nearby plantation.
Police had initially registered a case of unnatural death, but the autopsy report confirmed that the child was raped before she was hanged.
In its verdict, the special court had said that in cases of unnatural death, it was the bounden duty of the investigating officer to reach the place of occurrence without any delay, inspect the premises, collect all evidence and notice every minute detail with care and caution till the mystery was unravelled.
The court said that in this case, the investigating officer (IO) adopted a “lethargic attitude” throughout the investigation.
It also said that the “unscientific way of collecting evidence without showing the shrewdness and intelligence reasonably expected from an investigating officer seriously affected the prompt and timely collection of evidence in the case”.
Soon after the verdict, the Kerala police said they would move an appeal in the case.
The police had earlier claimed that it seemed like he had raped her many times in the past. However, on 30 June, the child fell unconscious during his rape attempt and thinking that she was dead, he hanged her, police said.
(With PTI inputs)
