NHRC issues notice to Kerala govt on dalit sisters' arrest

Cases were registered against two politicians in connection with the suicide attempt of one of the Dalit sisters

The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to Kerala government, seeking its report over the arrest of two Dalit women for allegedly attacking a CPI(M) worker in Thalassery in Kannur district last month.

In its notice, the NHRC directed Chief Secretary S M Vijayanand and state Police Chief Loknath Behera to "explain the circumstances" in which the Dalit women were arrested "when they in fact came to lodge a complaint against local CPI(M) activists".

"They are requested to submit an Action Taken Report in the matter for perusal of the Commission within four weeks," the Commission said, acting on a complaint filed by senior Congress MP Mullappally Ramachandran in respect of the arrest.

In his complaint, Ramachandran alleged that the women were abused, called by their caste name and subjected to obscene gestures by the CPI(M) activists.

The arrest of two Dalit siblings, daughters of a local Congress leader, for allegedly attacking a CPI(M) activist in Thalassery, had kicked up a row in Kerala with Congress and BJP attacking the LDF government over the issue.

Akhila (30) and Anjana (25), daughters of Indian National Trade Union Congress leader N Rajan were summoned to the police station on June 17, 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 jail along with her one-and-half-year-old daughter.

Both the sisters got conditional bail the next day.

However, one of them attempted to commit suicide after release from jail.

Cases were registered against CPI(M) MLA A N Shamseer and DYFI leader P P Divya in connection with the suicide attempt of one of the Dalit sisters.