Representational.
Kozhikode: Police booked a Kerala CPI(M)- the ruling party- leader on Friday on a complaint of sexual harassment against a woman leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI), The News Minute reported.
A sexual harassment case was filed against KP Biju, a ward member, a member of the Perambra Area Committee and the Panchayat Standing Committee (Development) in Kozhikode district. The complainant, a CPI leader from Cheruvannur, accused Biju of sexually assaulting her last month.
The Meppayur police here registered an FIR, including sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A(1)(i) (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code. Though police informed that no arrests had been made so far, the CPI(M) has not paid any response on the matter.
Earlier in September, another CPI(M) leader was booked for sexually assaulting a student. The Hindu reported that CPI(M) Echikowal north branch secretary TT Balachandran, who was the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of a school in Chandera in Kasaragod district, allegedly assaulted the student while she was practising for Onam celebrations. Balachandran was booked under Sections 354 (assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (1) (sexual harassment) of the IPC.