Molestation charges against CPM’s NGO leader

Molestation charges against NGO union activist

Author : Arjun Raghunath

Source: www.newindpress.com

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A probe is on into the alleged molestation of a woman employee at the Homoeo Directorate at Pazhavangadi here by an official of the Treasury Directorate and NGO union activist.

The Fort police have registered a case against the treasury official and started investigation. A department-level committee of the Homoeo Department and the Kerala State Women’s Commission are also probing the allegations. The woman alleged that she was transferred from here flouting norms and was relieved from the post in a hasty manner two days after she gave the complaint against the treasury official.

The incident pertaining to the allegation occurred on July 21 – the day on which pro-left service organisations observed a strike in protest against the death of a teacher during an agitation at Malappuram district.

The complainant was among those who turned up for duty on that day. A group of pro-left activists, including the accused, came to the office and wanted all the employees to leave the office. While the complainant was about to leave her office hall on the first-floor of the directorate, the accused obstructed and asked her mobile number. The other employees at the hall had already left the hall. As she refused to give the mobile number even after repeated plea, the accused made physical advances towards her and abused her, says the complaint.

She also alleged that on the next two days the treasury official contacted her on her office phone and made smooth talks. Though the woman was meeting the accused for the first-time, some of her colleagues had identified the accused who was also a former student of the Govt Homoeo College.

When contacted by Express, the accused denied the allegations stating that it was politically motivated. “It is true that I was among the agitators, but had not involved in acts as alleged by the lady, ‘’ he said. Fort Assistant Commissioner K C Sasikumar said that a case of abusing and molestation against the NGO union activist has been registered and the investigation is progressing.