Fascist CPI(M) ‘s Casteist Attacks on Harijan Women; Sister Attempts Suicide

Thalassery: The recent incident of wrongly accusing the Harijan sisters Akhila and Anjana of “having barged into CPM branch committee office and having manhandled and attacked party workers present there” seems to have sprung from a premeditated intent, an obviously larger conspiracy. Things are also said to have gone out of hand with one of the sisters Anju having attempted suicide. She has been admitted to Indira Gandhi Cooperative Hospital following an overdose intake of sleeping pills. Her condition is said to be stable.

The actual reason for the trouble to brew up began when Anju and Akhila marched up to the Marxist goons who had taunted their father, Congress Block Secretary Nadammal Rajan using his caste name, along with roughing him up, seeking an explanation from them. But later, the two sisters who were summoned by Thalassery police under the pretext of interrogation and recording of their statement, were implicated in a false case and arrested immediately, on charges of non bailable offenses. Along with Anjana, her one year old daughter too had to endure the torment of being imprisoned. The reason for this is too clear- the father of these women had contested in the recently concluded local panchayat election under a ticket from the Congress.

Reacting to the incident, BJP state president Kummanam Rajashekharan said that the incident reveals the LDF government’s feudal nature. Pointing out how the CPM has been extending nothing but feudalistic attitude towards Dalits, even as the 75th death anniversary of Mahatma Ayyankali who had championed the cause of the uplift of those downtrodden in society is fast approaching, Kummanam said, “The Harijan women who were imprison for the sole reason of having questioned the Marxist leaders who had taunted them with caste names only brings to light the feudal mentality of the LDF government,” he said.

Akhila, who spoke to sources said that women members of DYFI had character assassinated them, even alleging that the two sisters were connected with quotation teams. “The humiliation led Anju to such extreme step,” she said.

Seeking urgent intervention from Human Rights Commission and Scheduled Caste Commission Kummanam said, “Having slapped serious charges and registered a case against helpless women, is nothing but torture of the highest level. The police who have taken the stand of not arresting those criminals who ridiculed women-hood and the entire humanity by using caste names for taunt, are evidently sounded the trumpet of their Marxist masters. Women having gone to prison with infant babies have happened only during the period of Emergency.

Akhila and Anjana recount hours of horror. “We were taken to Kannur Court, from where we were remanded. Police have lied about our using weapons present in the office, to attack the people there. We have been falsely charged with IPC Section 452, for having barged into party office and unleashed an attack,” they said.

Rajan, the father of the two women, had made a foray into local politics, contesting in the panchayat elections. “Marxist goons started harassing us soon after. “Each time we pass by the party office, they taunt us using our caste names and use profane language which border on obscenity. There is a limit to endurance, which is why we decided to confront them. This has been twisted to an attack on party office and party workers,” the sisters are reported to have stated.

The two sisters were released on bail by Kannur Sessions Court.