While lathicharging DYFI and CPI (M) workers protesting demonetisation, women cadres were “sexually assaulted” by the policemen, DYFI and CPI (M) representatives alleged.
The CPI(M) had organised a protest at Medavakkam on Saturday against demonetisation where women cadre said policemen misbehaved with them.
“The policemen touched our private parts and one of them even had the audacity to molest one of us in full daylight. Not just that, they attacked us with whatever they could get hold of even after repeated pleading,” S. Athilakshmi (name changed), one of the victims told a press conference at the party office on Sunday.
Recalling the incident on Saturday in which several CPI(M) and DYFI workers were severely injured, she said even senior police officers made vulgar gestures and indulged in character assassination.
A CPI (M) functionary from Mylapore, S. Kumar, who suffered injuries on the back, alleged that it was a targeted attack as they highlighted police excess in five specific police stations which were notorious for torture and custodial deaths.
CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan strongly condemned the police excess and demanded action against the policemen who sexually assaulted the women.
After the attack on the CPI(M) cadre near Medavakkam, those who objected to the molestation were taken in a police van. The rest were taken to a wedding hall and kept in custody. “When our party workers went to the hall and inquired on the whereabouts of those who were taken away, the police attacked them with lathis,” Mr. Ramakrishnan charged.
“Four more vehicles with more policemen arrived and the cadre were cornered and attacked. What is the need for such violence? The protest was only through democratic means,” Mr. Ramakrishnan said.
