Elderly woman alleges police assault while trying to submit complaint to chief minister

VARKALA: A complaint has been filed against cops for attacking an elderly woman when she came to the secretariat to lodge a complaint with Chief Minister V D Satheesan. The complaint was filed by Sharada (79) of Kalkuttamvila, Edava, Venkulam, Chembakathilmoodu, Varkala. However, it is reported that no case has been registered in the complaint. The incident happened a week ago.

Sharada had come to meet the chief minister in person to complain that her neighbour had failed to return Rs 2.5 lakh borrowed from her. A case related to the matter registered at Ayiroor Police Station, is presently under the court's consideration. She alleged that during her first visit, the chief minister accepted her complaint and asked her to come after two days. However, when she came, the police prevented her from entering his office. She claimed that officers, including women police personnel, denied entry.

According to Sharada, when she insisted that she would leave only after meeting the chief minister, five women cops and three civil police officers forcibly lifted her and put her into a police jeep. During the scuffle, she allegedly fell and hit her face. She claimed to have sustained injuries on her hands, legs, and face.

Sharada further alleged that she was released only after several hours and that, during her detention, police officers tried to persuade her to drop the matter by offering her money. She later sought treatment at the Varkala Taluk Hospital. The hospital authorities have reportedly informed the police about the incident.