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Perumbavoor rape-murder: Kerala activists in the dock for 'exposing' police

KOCHI: Three years after the rape and murder of a law student at her house in Perumbavoor, a group of activists, mostly women, are facing criminal cases for seeking justice to the slain 29-year-old woman.


Their protests had then exposed the lackadaisical attitude of the police during the initial days of the probe.



Now, at least 12 persons have been summoned to appear before the Perumbavoor judicial magistrate court. They have been charged under non-bailable sections, including Section 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and Section 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), among others.

Manjuladevi, Anju Murali, Alga, Nimisha Raju, Maya Krishnan, Hasna, Hissana, Umesh, Fisal, Giri, Jomon and Shan have received the summons.

“Police assaulted us when we were peacefully protesting. They poked me on the chest with a lathi; Manjuladevi was serious injuried. We didn’t file a complaint, but they twisted the whole thing and filed a case against us. I am sure the officers – whose laxity became public due to our protests– are exacting revenge,” said Maya Krishnan, adding that protests led to the arrest of the accused.

“In May 2016 we started protests to ensure justice. Later, we conducted protests in police stations at Perumbavoor and Kuruppampady, who refused to respect even her body. We held protests against locals, who refused to recognize her. There was state-wide anti-incumbency mood after the murder except in Perumbavoor,” Maya posted on Facebook.

She is unsure if action was taken against errant officers. “Those who erred have acted against us,” she wrote. “We did not protest for personal gains. What message is the government sending by booking us,” she asked. The law student was found murdered on April 28, 2016. A court in Ernakulam , drawing parallels with the Nirbhaya incident, awarded death to the accused, Ameerul Islam.

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