Kerala serial abuse case: Incongruities in woman’s deposition, say police; CWC differs

Express News Service
KOZHIKODE: The proceedings within the case of the minor woman at Pandikkad in Malappuram, who had suffered sexual abuse from a lot of individuals, appears to have gotten caught.

The police say they’re pressured to maneuver cautiously as a result of there are incongruities in her deposition. At the identical time, the Malappuram district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has dismissed the police idea.

The now 17-year-old woman had suffered abuse by near 100 individuals. More than 60 of them have been arrested. Around 80 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act instances have been registered since 2016 which contain 75 FIRs. She had deposed earlier than the Justice of the Peace in opposition to a former CWC chairman as effectively.

“We are examining the nitty-gritty of each deposition and checking whether the details match with our findings. That is why the proceedings are taking time,” mentioned Pandikkad Inspector of Police Amrith Gangan. As there are 80-odd instances, these have been distributed amongst varied SHOs.

Another police officer mentioned the discrepancies within the woman’s deposition have made issues complicated. “The girl identifies picture of an accused on Instagram but not when his real picture is shown. Similarly, in some cases, the place and time of abuse are not matching. The places of occurrence like hospital toilet, inside a shop etc seem unlikely to happen at first sight,” mentioned the officer.

What CWC says

Present CWC Chairman Shajesh Bhaskar instructed TNIE that he does not purchase the police idea. “It is common sense that a minor girl who had undergone a series of abuse will be shell shocked and could forget place, date, time and such details. If there are so many accused, she might get confused. The police have to support and help her overcome the confusion,” he mentioned.

The CWC is now offering psychological and psychiatric help to the woman with the cooperation of consultants from Government Medical College Hospital, Manjeri.

The New Indian Express learnt that there’s suspicion amongst varied quarters that delay on the a part of the police got here after the woman deposed in opposition to the previous CWC chairman.

Meanwhile, sources mentioned the accused former chairman has approached the Pocso court docket for anticipatory bail.

According to the woman’s deposition, he had first abused her at his workplace, the place he’s practising as a junior lawyer beneath a senior advocate. As per herdeposition, he had abused her greater than as soon as. 

Meanwhile, police say that there’s political curiosity at play as effectively, because the accused ex-CWC chairman is recognized with a political celebration.

TIMELINE OF THE CASE

Then 13-year woman first admitted to shelter house on May 6, 2016
She was despatched together with her brother on June 12, 2016
Second admission at shelter house on August 21, 2017
Releasing date not identified
Third admission at shelter house on October 6, 2017
Sent with one other brother and his spouse on August 14, 2019
Fourth admission in October 2020