Jesna Mariam missing case: Women's panel spots police lapse

KOCHI: Coming down severely on the police, Kerala State Women's Commission chairperson M.C. Josephine said the police had committed a serious lapse in the investigation connected with the missing of Jesna Mariam James, a degree student of St. Dominic's College Kanjirappally.  Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of mega adalat in Kochi Tuesday, Ms Josephine said "such complaints against the police are recurring".

"The police should not treat complaints by women in a frivolous manner. The police should treat a complaint seriously", she said. Ms Josephine made the comments when media persons pointed out that a special investigation team has been constituted 46 days after the complaint was registered. The family members of Jesna have alleged that the police acted on the case only three days after registering the missing complaint.

Ms Josephine also decried the incident in which Kochi mayor Soumini Jain was held hostage for nearly six hours by Opposition LDF councilors a few days ago. "Such actions against women are not right, whoever commits it," she said. The chairperson said the Commission will take stringent action against those responsible for attacks against women through the social media. "The commission will take action in such cases without any delay", she added.

The chairperson also said the commission will ask the state government to intervene to save Nimisha Priya, facing a death sentence in Yemen. A report has been sought from the DGP in the matter, she said. On the issue between the students and teachers in Maharajas College in Ernakulam she said the commission will take a decision only after studying the subject. The case has been posted for further hearing on June 15.