MALAPPURAM: CPM Malappuram district committee member, accused in a POCSO case, has been suspended. The party took action against Velayudhan Vallikunnu for trying to sexually assault a minor boy. The action was taken by the party district leadership convened yesterday. Despite police registering a case, the party was widely criticized for not taking action against him. Following that, the party decided to take action. The party was of the stand that they had not noticed the incident even after registering a case. The activists themselves had made it clear that protecting Velayudhan would be an embarrassment to the party.

The incident happened under the limits of the Nallalam station. Velayudhan misbehaved with the minor boy during a bus journey. A case has been registered based on the statement of the boy from Vallikunnu. Sections seven and eight of the POCSO Act have been charged against him. It has been alleged that weak sections have been imposed and political influence is behind it.