BJP, Cong demand case against CPI-M leader for naming rape victim

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP and Congress in the state Saturday demanded that a case be registered against CPI-M’s Thrissur district secretary K Radhakrishnan for publicly naming the gangrape victim.

BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan, in an e-mail to DGP Loknath Behara, said action should be taken against Radhakrishnan, an ex-minister and a former Speaker of the Kerala Assembly.

Giving details of the rape victim is punishable under Section 228 (A) of IPC, he said, adding Radhakrishnan had "deliberately" used the woman’s name.

Friday, while addressing the media at Thrissur on the suspension of two party workers who had been named by the victim, Radhakrishnan had mentioned the woman’s name.

When the media personnel pointed it out, he had said when the accused can be named, why not the victim?

CPI state secretary Kannam Rajendran said action should be taken as per the law against whoever has done wrong, whether the person is a former Speaker or ex-minister.

Congress also attacked Radhakrishan for his "insensitiveness".

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said Radhakrishnan had made a "grave mistake" and a case should be registered against him.

KPCC President V M Sudheeran alleged the CPI-M leader had used the victim’s name "purposefully".

The rape victim had appeared before the media here two days ago, alleging that a CPI-M councillor of Wadakancherry had raped her along with three of his friends two years ago and were continuing to mentally harass her.

Meanwhile, Kerala state Human Rights Commission today suo motu registered a case on the basis of the woman’s allegations and directed the DGP to conduct a detailed inquiry.