Arrested by mistake and tormented for four years; police still not letting Bhartiamma live in peace

PALAKKAD: Bhartiamma (84) of Vadakkethara Madathil Veedu Kunissery is being threatened again by the police who troubled her for four years after arresting her by mistake. She was forced to sign after writing that there was no need for compensation and there was no complaint against the policemen.

When Bhartiamma said that she would not sign without asking her brother, the police went back after threatening her that 'we know what to do'. A four-member team, including a SI and a woman police officer, reached the house. Her brother Kochukrishnan filed a complaint with DGP and Human Rights Commission.

Crime branch DySP P Sasikumar had recommended action against the policemen in the departmental investigation in the case of the arrest of the innocent 84-year-old woman. The culprits are the officers who were working at Town South Station in 2014. The investigation report has been submitted to the District Superintendent of Police. Bhartiamma's lawyer had submitted an RTI application seeking the names of these policemen. This may be the reason why the police came to the house and threatened her.

Bhartiamma's brother Kochukrishnan who is in Bengaluru filed a complaint saying that Bhartiamma, who lives alone, should be given police protection and that justice should not be delayed in the case.

The story of the fake case

The incident happened in 1998. The case is that a woman named Bharti, who was the housemaid of Rajagopal, a native of Kallikad, destroyed plant pots, window panes, etc. and shouted obscenities. Palakkad South Police arrested Bharti. She came out on bail and absconded. In 2019, police arrested Bhartiamma and refused to listen to what she said. The court acquitted Bhartiamma after four years when the complainant approached the court in person and told the court that Bhartiamma was not the accused and that he did not want to proceed with the case.