Seeking justice to a pregnant Dalit woman, who was allegedly ditched by her husband, and demanding action against the ‘biased’ police, members of various political parties staged a demonstration here on Wednesday.
Led by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) town secretary Nazar Khan, leaders of various political parties staged the demonstration in front of the bus stand, demanding action against Inspector of Police Meenambal and Sub-Inspector Nalayani for arresting CPI (M) activist Senthilvel, who was acting in support of the Dalit woman, Anjugam.
CPI (M) leader M. Karunamurthy said P. Sethubaskar from Akkalmadam and Anjugam, an M. Com. graduate from Alanganallur in Madurai, were in love for about two years and when she conceived, Sethubaskar tried to ditch her.
The woman later went to Chennai to work in a private company and lodged a complaint with the police. At the intervention of Chennai Police Commissioner, the all women police station at St. Thomas Mount conducted her marriage with Sethubaskar at the local Sub-Registrar’s office. After the woman reached Akkalmadam, her husband left her again and was absconding, he said.
When Senthilvel and Madhar Sangam member Vadakoria took up her case with the police, they were confronted by two women advocates who appeared for Sethubaskar at the all women police station at Rameswaram last week. Based on a complaint given by Chithrakala, one of the advocates, police filed an FIR against the two CPI (M) activists and arrested Senthilvel on Monday.
While Mr. Karunamurthy alleged that the police acted in a biased manner, Ms. Meenambal said they registered the FIR only after proper enquiry. She said the police had handed over Anjugam to her mother in-law as she was her guardian till her husband returned.
But the CPI (M) activists would not allow her to join her mother-in-law. Mr. Karunamurthy said the agitation was also to urge the police to drop the cases against the two activists.
Those who joined the agitation included K. Muraleedharan (BJP), Muthu Kamatchi (DMDK), ‘Karate’ Palanisamy (MDMK), Sivaji (CITU), Rajamani (Congress), Ramakrishnan (TMC) and Ramanathan (VCK).
