India
The pilgrimage season is all set to start at the Sabarimala temple. The Kerala police have been under fire for targeting those going against the Supreme Court order
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala police are again under fire for targeting those not supporting the Sabarimala issue in which the Supreme Court had allowed women of all ages to enter the Lord Ayyapa shrine against the long-standing tradition.
Sources said in one such raid in Thiruvananthapuram, the cops beat up three minors in a family along with their parents. They added that the minors, including a 7-month-old infant, was beaten mercilessly and left injured.
The cops reportedly snatched the baby from his mother's arms, who was also beaten up after she protested the arrest of her husband.
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A complaint has been lodged under the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
According to the complaint, whose copy is with MyNation, about 30 police personnel along with Palode police station cops barged into the complainant’s house in Thiruvananthapuram after 9.30 PM and started beating the man for going protesting women’s entry to Sabarimala temple. His wife was also pushed and assaulted. “The three kids, who were crying, rushed to save their parents were slapped and kicked by some cops present," an officer said.
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The eldest of the siblings said the police "snatched her infant sister and threatened her mother with dire consequences". "When my 4-year-old brother ran to save our father, he was kicked and thrown on one corner,” the child added.
The minor girl said that the police vandalised their house by throwing household items around and later arrested their father. “They left our house leaving behind my bleeding mother. All of us are living in extreme trauma following the assault.”
Sources added that the minor has asked the NCPCR to send a "special team to investigate the matter and to lodge FIR against all police officers involved”.
As the pilgrimage season is set to start at the Sabarimala Temple, the Kerala government will meet with all the political parties today to discuss the controversy over the entry of women of menstruating age.
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