Police and CWC lock horns over high court lawyer involved POCSO case

PATHANAMTHITTA: The police and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) sparred over allegations of protecting a lawyer accused in a POCSO case.

Apart from blaming suspended Konni DySP Rajappan Rawathar and SHO Sreejith for lapses in the investigation and trying to shield POCSO-accused High Court lawyer Noushad Thottathil and the victim’s relative, the home department report also reserved criticism for CWC for delaying proceedings and lately submitting a report to the police.

The report states that the accused went directly to the CWC office to settle the case and pressured the victim to withdraw the complaint. District CWC Chairman and CPM leader N. Rajeev filed a complaint with the Chief Minister saying that the report barely had any facts.

The CWC members say that the police are now hounding them for denying the opportunity to mediate and settle the case. On December 3, the case was reported by CWC. On December 10, the girl was subjected to counselling. On the 12th, a psychologist was contacted. On the 13th, a report was submitted to the Konni SHO. According to CWC members, the police prepared the report without any investigation.

The DySP and SHO were suspended for delaying action for three and a half months in the complaint of a 17-year-old girl who alleged her lawyer brutally raped her at various occasions.