CPI(M) suspends two rape accused

A day after a woman levelled allegations of gang rape against a local Marxist party functionary and three others, the CPI(M) today suspended two accused, who are party workers.
The decision to suspend Jayanthan and Bineesh was taken at the CPI(M)'s district committee this evening, the party's Thrissur district secretary K Radhakrishnan told reporters.
The Area committee had earlier in the day recommended to the district committee to suspend the accused.
Radhakrishnan said the party had not examined if Jayanthan, who is CPI(M)'s Wadakancherry Municipal Council member, should resign from the council.
Jayanthan has denied the charges, saying they were baseless.

The 33-year-old woman and her husband had appeared before the media here with their faces covered yesterday, giving details of the sordid incident two years ago and how she was humiliated by police when she tried to file a police complaint.

She said the accused continued to 'taunt' her, threatening that they would make a video footage of the incident public.
DGP Loknath Behara today said a probe was already on the complaint of the 33-year-old woman.
Another probe had also been ordered with regard to allegations relating to police conduct to see if there are omissions on the part of police.

The issue also figured in the assembly and the government assured that a fair probe and stern action would be taken against the accused.
Law minister A K Balan, who spoke on behalf of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijyan, said the government would not protect culprits in criminal cases even if they belong to the ruling party.
Guruvayur Assistant Commissioner of Police had already been entrusted the task of probing the matter on the basis of the woman's complaint, he said.