The Payyannur Police will record the statement of writer Paul Zakharia in a case registered in connection with his alleged manhandling by a group of suspected Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists on January 9.
The police at Payyannur had registered a case against a group of youths under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) in connection with the incident that occurred at Payyannur on the night of January 9. The writer had been allegedly roughed up by a group of DYFI workers outside the hotel where he was staying during his visit to the town for releasing a book at a public function there.
They had been allegedly irked by Mr. Zakharia's comment on 'sexual conservatism' being promoted by the Left in the State while criticising the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s stand on the arrest of Congress leader Rajmohan Unnithan along with a woman from a house at Manjeri recently.
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The Payyannur Police Sub Inspector Vinod Kumar said that the police team investigating into the incident on Wednesday visited the spot where the writer had been reportedly assaulted. Investigation was already under way and the police were collecting evidence, he said. He also said that the police would seek a time convenient for him to get his statement on the incident recorded.
The police had registered the case following a written complaint by a local Congress leader on the basis of media reports on the manhandling of Mr. Zakharia. The author had not lodged any complaint in connection with the incident.