Abusive cops can be jailed for a year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Ramesh Chenithala may have given clean chit to cops regarding ‘Kiss on the Street’ protest in Kozhikode on Sunday, but the highly abusive and offensive remarks made by policemen against women activists in full public view is a fit case for invoking stringent provisions under 354 A IPC.

The cops who were deployed to maintain law order in the area had virtually turned into ‘uniformed moral brigade’ using the choicest expletives against women even questioning their character. Under amended Section 354 A IPC post Nirbhaya, making sexually coloured remarks is a criminal offence.

Activists say if a victim files a complaint, FIR will have to be registered under Section 354 A, which penalises unwelcome behaviour of sexual nature, whether verbal or physical. 

The police officers who used abusive language can be booked for making sexually coloured remarks. If found guilty they would be liable for imprisonment of up to one year.

“We are ready to help if they come up with complaint against police officials. Though we all don't expect anything better from cops, using degrading language against women clearly calls for penal action,” said Anweshi president K Ajitha.

Noted criminologist James Vadakumchery who takes classes for cops on ‘Ethics in Law Enforcement and Policing’ said abusive behaviour of police personnel could not be condoned in any more. “Though there is significant change since I started interacting with cops in 1976, we still have many who use abusive language.

Actually the cops adopt a tit for tat policy. When they get abused, they return the expletives, which is totally unjustified.”

The protesters can file petition with police complainants authority or even take legal to proceed against erring cops. “Women police who abused girls should also be hauled up. Neither men or women cops enjoy any immunity from law,” he added.