Thrissur gangrape: Opposition UDF demands case against CPM's Radhakrishnan

Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition Congress-led UDF on Monday demanded that a case be registered against CPI(M)'s Thrissur district secretary K Radhakrishnan for allegedly disclosing the name of a gangrape victim before the media.

Opposition leader in the assembly Ramesh Chennithala on Monday wrote to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, demanding that a case be registered against Radhakrishnan, a former minister and Speaker.

Action should be launched against Radhakrishnan, who had "deliberately" named the victim publicly, Chennithala said.

While talking to media in Thrissur two days ago, Radhakrishnan had named the victim while announcing the suspension of the two party workers involved in the gang rape.

Chennithala said that revealing the name of the rape victim was a "serious" offence.

As per Section 228(A) of IPC, disclosing the name of the rape victim would invite two years imprisonment and fine.

In the Nirbhaya case of Delhi, the victim's name had not been revealed, he said.

Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said it was a 'mistake' to name the victim.

"We are not supposed to name the victim. So it was a mistake to name the victim', she said in Delhi.

The Chief Minister himself has initiated an enquiry. The Party has also suspended the men who have been named by the victim, she said.

Meanwhile, police has completed taking the statement of the victim and her husband's statement was being recorded on Monday, sources said.

The 33-year-old victim had appeared before media in Thiruvananthapuram, alleging that she had been gang raped by four persons, including a CPI(M) councillor of Wadakancherry two years ago and she was being harassed even now.