MALAPPURAM: Following complaints of alleged laxity and inaction from the part of local police in three sexual abuse cases registered at various police stations in the district, three special teams headed by senior officers from Thrissur have started detailed investigation into the cases. The teams, appointed by the Thrissur Range IG M.R Ajith Kumar, are probing the alleged inaction in three cases registered under the POCSO act at Manjeri, Areekode and Mankada police stations.
Thrissur Rural DySP P.A. Muhammed Arif, Thrissur district Crime Branch ACP Babu K. Thomas and ACP (Administration) M.K. Gopalakrishnan are the officers entrusted with the job. “The detailed investigation has already been started and we will look into all aspects of the case. Statements will also be recorded. The would visit Malappuram soon,” said Gopalakris-hnan who investigates the case in Mankada.
The fresh probe into three cases were ordered after IG Ajith Kumar received complaints about lapses on the part of local police in POCSO cases while investigating the lapses in Edappal theatre abuse case. In Manjeri, the police has allegedly hushed up a sexual assault case against a senior revenue officer who sexually assaulted a nine-year-old girl in 2016. The case was forwarded to the police by district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and Childline in October 2016.
Though the victim also submitted a written compliant, the police were reluctant to initiate action against the revenue officer. According to the Childline, even the District Police Chief’s intervention has made no impact and no FIR was registered in the case. The Thrissur Crime Branch ACP Babu K. Thomas would look into the lapses in the case. The POCSO case registered in Mankada police station is related to two minor girls being exposed to continued sexual abuses by friends of their mother and stepfather. The incident was also unearthed by the Childline after they received tip off through their toll free number last year.
Though the Mankada police had registered case against the accused, no arrests were made so far. Thrissur ACP (Administration) M.K. Gopalakrishnan is looking into the alleged laxity of the police in this case. The case registered at Areekode police station was related to sexual abuse against a minor girl by a relative and neighbour. The accused in the case managed to flee to gulf allegedly taking advantage of the police inaction in the case. The case is being scrutinised by Thrissur Rural DySP P.A. Muhammed Arif.
