Women harassed in Kannur Town police station

KANNUR: Two women have approached the Human Rights Commission and Chief Judicial Magistrate court, Thalassery, over alleged harassment by the police at the station, when they went to complain against a CPM worker's attempt to extort money.  The Parakkandy natives said they would submit a petition to the Women’s Commission at an Adalat to be held on Friday at the Collectorate. They said that they went to the Town police station to complain that he had been harassing one of them for money. Though the police called the accused along with the women on December 6, they let him off and instead, held these women back at the station till evening. 

They alleged that they were not given either water or food, even after begging for it. However, station house officer SI Shaji Patteri denied the allegations and said that the police only implemented the directions of the court. “The complaints are exaggerated. There was arrest warrant against the women, and we did not commit anything unlawful. They were treated normal, and produced before the court, on the basis of the warrant,” said the sub-inspector.

The women, who also forwarded the copies of their complaint to the chief minister as well as the High Court, said that the issues began after a case against the chit firm in which one of them was an employee and fourth witness.  “The case was dismissed by the High Court, after finding it baseless. I tried to convince them in vain and promised them that the proof of the case was at home, which was close to the station. But they did not let me go and bring it,” the woman said. The Thalassery court will consider their plea on Saturday.