Malappuram: Suspended sub-inspector of Changaramkulam police station, K.G. Baby, was arrested by the district Crime Branch on Tuesday for not taking action against the sexual assault on a minor girl inside a theatre at Edappal in April. The case against the officer was registered on May 15 under sections 19 and 21 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and section 166 (A) of IPC for failing to record the information and initiate action against the accused in the case.
The officer was released on bail after his arrest was recorded. Baby was suspended on May 12 for allegedly delaying action when the case was first reported to him on April 26. His arrest came just a day after theatre owner Sathish was held for not reporting the incident to the police.
His arrest has provoked protests from different corners. The incident took place at Sharada theatre at Edappal on April 18 when key accused Kankunnath Moideen Kutty was caught on CCTV sexually abusing the minor girl with the connivance of her mother who was seated beside Kutty. The theatre management informed the Childline about the incident on April 25.
Film exhibitors to move court against arrest of theatre owner
The Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK), the organisation of cinema hall owners in the state, has condemned the arrest of Sathish, theatre owner at Edappal, who informed the Childline about a minor girl being sexually assaulted inside the cinema hall. FEUOK president Antony Perumbavoor, general secretary M.C. Baby and other office-bearers told reporters in Kochi on Tuesday that the organisation would move the court against the police action.
“The arrest cannot be justified in any manner,” they added. Action was taken against the cinema hall owner to hide the police failure in the case, they said. “The legal opinion received by us has clearly stated that the arrest of the cinema hall owner is a violation of law,” they added. Steps would be initiated to install CCTV cameras in all cinema halls in the state to prevent such happenings. A notice has been issued to the members of the organisation in the matter. However, the huge expenditure in installing the facility was acting as a deterrent to many people, they said.
