Edappal theatre sexual abuse case: Women's panel decries cop action

MALAPPURAM: The unexpected arrest of the theatre owner Satheesh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in connection with Edappal theatre sexual abuse case has drawn huge flak from different corners. Many see this as a revengeful act of the Police for exposing its laxity, which put them in the dock when the incident was first reported last month. 

Kerala Women’s Commission chairperson M.C Josephine has come up supporting Satheesh who played a key role in bringing the incident to light which otherwise had all the chances to be hushed up. She condemned the Police action against Satheesh. Former Kerala Police Chief T.P Senkumar also commented against the arrest of Satheesh terming the Police action as shame for the force. The arrest of Satheesh conveys a negative message and discourages the public to expose such crimes, he said.

Satheesh was right in reporting the incident to the Childline, Mr Senkumar said. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala also lambasted the Police. He termed the action has harmed the trust quotient in the Police. There were allegations that the police was trying to book Childline authorities for circulating the video footage in which the key accused was caught abusing the minor girl inside the theatre.

The police had questioned the social workers and counselors who were involved in bringing the incident to the public domain which eventually forced the Police to register a case.   The investigation is still in progress and more  will be questioned upon requirements, said District Crime Records Bureau DySP Saji Varghese  who is heading the investigation team.