Party Worker Raped, Two CPI (M) Leaders Arrested By Kerala Police

Party worker raped: On Monday, June 28, the Kerala police arrested two Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) workers in Vadakara in north Kerala’s Kozhikode district for allegedly raping a female party worker three months ago.

The woman filed a police complaint last week and the party expelled the Mulliyeri branch secretary Baburaj and Democratic Youth Federation of India (the party’s youth wing) or DYFI leader TP Lijesh after that. She alleged she was under tremendous pressure to keep quiet about the incident and had also been threatened with implication in false cases.

In the complaint, the woman said that three months ago, Baburaj reportedly came to her house with an excuse to discuss an election issue and allegedly raped her. She added that he raped her many times after threatening her that he would tell her husband if she didn’t agree.

The woman added that when Lijesh, DFYI leader came to know about it, he also started harassing her. Further, she said she even considered ending her life. However, gathering courage, she narrated the incident to her husband and both of them approached the police.

The opposition has criticised the police for delaying the arrest of the accused persons. They have also threatened to launch an agitation. T Siddique, Congress working president, said to Hindustan Times that the police  delayed the arrest due to political pressure and acted only after the protests mounted.

Moosa Vallikadan, Vadakara deputy superintendent of police said that the investigating team has recorded the woman's detailed statement and that there will be a fair probe. A CPI(M) leader, who preferred to remain anonymous added that the law would take its course.

In February this year, a 20-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh by four men. The incident also included a BJP functionary. The ruling party later confirmed that the accused worker had been sacked.