'Revealing clothes? Why out at four in morning?'; Controversy over police approach in disturbing Kochi incident

KOCHI: Three youngsters were arrested for brutally attacking women in the wee hours of Monday night in Kochi. The ten-member gang attacked the women after they questioned the sexual innuendos passed at them. Albin, a native of Edappal, Malappuram, and Sabith and Arun, natives of Mannarkkad, Palakkad, have been arrested. They are employees of the lodge run by Akbar, a native of Mannarkkad, Palakkad, the first accused in the case. They will be produced in court today. The other accused, including Akbar, are absconding. The Ernakulam North police took action in the assault that took place on a public road.

A Palakkad native and a Kozhikode native, studying in Kaloor for the Railway Recruitment Board competitive examination, faced the assault. The incident took place at Chakkalapadam near the Pavakulam temple in Kaloor at 4.30 am on Tuesday. The Palakkad native tried to tear her clothes, dragged her by hair and kicked her on the ground. He grabbed the second girl’s hand and twisted it. Both of them sought treatment at the Ernakulam General Hospital.

Akbar, who is accused of criminal cases, is also being investigated for his dealings in Kochi. His lodge was raided on Tuesday. There were two young women and eight young men in the group.

The girls went out early in the morning to drink tea and take a break from their tedious studies. The women from the ten-member gang standing on the side of the road mocked and abused them. When the duo questioned it, Akbar made lewd gestures. He came closer and tried to touch them. When the Kozhikode native tried to record this on her phone, Akbar forcibly grabbed her hand, took the phone and threw it on the road.

The man then turned towards the Palakkad native. He tore her clothes. The two girls stated that when she fell to the ground, he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her along the road, including kicking her in the chest. The young women in the group did not try to stop the attack. Realising that the incident would become a case, the group fled. The police have received CCTV footage.

Meanwhile, friends of the victims accused the police officials who came to take a statement at the hospital. According to them, the police officials blamed them for getting out at this hour and even asked whether they were wearing revealing clothes. The DCP said that they would look into whether there was any lapse on the part of the police.