Sexual abuse attempt towards woman watcher, official tainted image of forest dept, says Minister A K Saseendran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister A K Saseendran said strict action has been taken against the official for allegedly trying to sexually abuse a woman watcher of the forest department office in Gavi. Deputy range officer Manoj T Mathew has been suspended pending investigation and his act has tainted the image of the forest department, said the minister.

The complaint is that he tried to sexually abuse the woman watcher, a temporary employee of Gavi station. She is from the adivasi community. The complaint said that when she was making food along with her male colleague, Manoj came there and said that he will distribute things from the store room and then summoned her there and tried to sexually abuse her. She said that when her colleague came running, Manoj pushed him and tried to abuse her again. She said she was rescued by other employees including the section officer. An investigation by Periyar range officer reported the incident to be true. The internal grievance redressal committee then inquired and directed to take action against Manoj. The Moozhiyar police have also registered a case and an investigation has started.