A 21-year-old student unionist, believed to be a member of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) has filed a police complaint alleging she was raped inside the ruling CPI(M)'s area committee office at Cherpulassery in Kerala by another student activist, following which a probe has been started. A case was registered after police found a newborn girl last Saturday abandoned by the roadside. The police traced her mother, who said the baby was born after she was allegedly raped by a student activist inside the party office 10 months ago.
Responding to the issue, the SFI Kerala President V Vineesh, said that he wasn't aware of such an incident and will respond to the 'allegation' after an investigation. "This is just an allegation. We will respond after we investigate the issue and find the truth," says Vineesh. "I got to know about this only now through media reports," he adds. SFI National President VP Sanu, who is contesting for the Lok Sabha polls said that he was unaware of this incident.
The woman claimed in her complaint that she went to the party office for preparation of a college magazine when the incident happened. A local CPI(M) leader said the woman is an SFI activist and her family has close links with the party. The party would probe if such an incident has taken place in its office and police also should conduct a "truthful" and "scientific" probe, he added. Police officials are yet to record the statement of the man, who is being accused.
The woman and the newborn have been hospitalised, police said. The Cherpulassery police confirmed that the case had been filed and that the investigation was underway.
Attacking the CPI(M), the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said that it was unfortunate that party offices of the CPI(M) have become rape centres. "I have regret in saying this. But that is the fact. Women are unsafe in Kerala in the LDF regime," Chennithala alleged. Palakkad's MP, M B Rajesh, who is seeking reelection on an LDF ticket in the Lok Sabha polls, has demanded that the truth should come out as early as possible. Protesting against the incident, Youth Congress workers took out a march to the CPI(M)'s Cherpulassery area committee office and raised slogans.
