Arrest of two Dalit sisters kicks up row in Kerala

The arrest of two Dalit sisters, daughters of a local Congress leader, for allegedly attacking a CPI(M) activist here has kicked up a row in Kerala with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes intervening in the matter.
Akhila (30) and Anjana (25), daughters of Indian National Trade Union Congress leader N Rajan were summoned to the police station yesterday, where a case was registered against them. They were then sent to the women's jail after being charged with non-bailable offences.
Akhila went to the jail with her one-and-half-year old daughter, family sources said.
According to police, the arrest was made on a complaint from the CPI(M) that the women had barged into their party office here and attacked one M Shijin, a party activist, some days ago.

However, Rajan, their father, rejected the charges and said the case was "politically motivated."
Rajan, who had contested in the last local body elections against a CPI(M) candidate, also said Shijin had mocked his daughters calling them by their caste name when they were passing by in front of the party office and the girls had just questioned the verbal abuse.

CPI(M) activists manhandled my daughters when they entered the party office, he said, adding that the party workers even attacked their house the same day.
Meanwhile, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Chairman P L Punia said it would intervene in the matter.

"We will intervene and inquire into the matter," he told a Malayalamnews channel in New Delhi when asked about the issue.
DGP Loknath Behera has sought a report from ADGP North Zone on the matter immediately.
Condemning the attack, state opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should intervene in the matter.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy also attacked the CPI(M)-led LDF government and said police had violated all the guidelines and directions of the Supreme Court in the arrest of the Dalit women.
He sought a comprehensive probe into the matter and demanded action against the officials responsible for the incident.