Police, islanders clash over sex abuse case in Minicoy

Kochi: Tense situation prevailed in Minicoy Island on Thursday after clashes between islanders and police over issues that triggered from the arrest of island native K Moosa at Nedumbassery airport on August 14 on his arrival from Doha, on charges of sexually abusing minor children. Moosa’s wife Noornisha B is also in custody in connection with the filming of the abuse scenes. The clashes on Thursday which finally led to teargas shelling and lathi charge resulted in injuries to local sub-inspector Ameer Bin Muhammed and another policeman and a few islanders, some of who have been admitted to the Minicoy hospital.

According to island natives, the trouble began as the mother of one of the victims of Moosa complained that the police had  leaked her name which is leading to her social ostracism, even at school. A meeting was called in the afternoon by the police to discuss the issue at a ground near the police station and panchayat office, close to which the local hospital also situated. That time Moosa was being brought in a helicopter to the island. Already there is a charge that he is getting VIP treatment in custody.

Far from settled, when some of the natives in the company of the mother questioned the SI after the close of the meeting, the policemen allegedly assaulted the mother, leading to charging by the youth and stone pelting of the station. Two youngsters  and the SI and a policeman were injured in the melee, following which the police unleashed a massive reprisal including teargas shelling and lathi charge.

According to natives, several of them are still holed up in panchayat office while Dr Muneer who contested last Parliament elections as CPM candidate and a few others have been taken into custody by police and the Minicoy administration is understood to have clamped Section 144, said a native over phone. Minicoy Deputy Collector Mr Puneet Kumar, despite repeated attempts to contact, was unavailable for comments.