Jayanthan P.N.Thiruvananthapuram: The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) Friday suspended Wadakkancherry municipal councilor P.N. Jayanthan against whom rape charges were raised by a woman from Thrissur Thursday.
Announcing the decision, CPM Thrissur district secretary and MLA K. Radhakrishnan said that both Jayanthan and Bineesh, who was also accused of rape by the woman, were suspended from the primary membership of the party.
However, Jayanthan will continue to be the councilor. Radhakrishnan said the party had not examined if Jayanthan should resign from the council.
The decision to suspend Jayanthan and Bineesh was taken at the CPM's district committee Friday evening, Radhakrishnan told reporters.
"In addition to the police investigation, the party will conduct a probe into the allegations. If the charges are proven, party will not protect the culprits," Radhakrishnan said.
The area committee had earlier in the day recommended to the district committee to suspend the accused.
CPM district secretary mentions victim's name
While addressing the media, Radhakrishnan repeatedly named the rape victim and her husband.
When journalists suggested that he should not mention the name of the victim, Radhakrishnan said, "They are using Jayanthan's name repeatedly, and we can't say their names? That's not right."
Terming Radhakrishnan's act as a crime, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan said that the CPM leader should be arrested for naming the rape victim in public.
"According to IPC 228 A, Radhakrishnan has committed a serious crime and violated the Supreme Court instruction in this regard," Kummanam said in a press statement.
The crime
The 33-year-old woman and her husband had appeared before the media in the state capital with their faces covered Thursday, giving details of the sordid incident two years ago and how she was humiliated by police when she tried to file a police complaint.
She said the accused continued to 'taunt' her, threatening that they would make a video footage of the incident public.
Apart from Jayanthan, three others - his brother Jineesh, Bineesh and Shibu - also raped the woman, she had revealed Thursday. The woman had said her family members were living in fear since the incident which occurred in 2014.
Jayanthan has denied the charges, saying they were baseless.
Minister assures action
The issue also figured in the assembly and the government assured that a fair probe and stern action would be taken against the accused.
Kerala law minister A.K. Balan has assured the state legislature that action would be taken against the culprits of the Thrissur gang-rape case.
Balan, who spoke on behalf of chief minister Pinarayi Vijyan, said the government would not protect culprits in criminal cases even if they belong to the ruling party.
Guruvayur assistant commissioner of police had already been entrusted the task of probing the matter on the basis of the woman's complaint, he said, while replying to an adjournment motion by the opposition.
Meanwhile, DGP Loknath Behara Friday said a probe was already on the complaint of the woman.
Another probe had also been ordered with regard to allegations relating to police conduct to see if there are omissions on the part of police.
'Police misbehavior'
Police have decided to record the statement of the victim again. There had been flaws on the part of the police in the investigation, it was found.
If she reiterates her allegations, a special team would be formed to probe the case that will also investigate her charges that the circle inspector (CI) misbehaved with her.
'Who gave you more pleasure,' cops asked gang-rape survivor in Kerala
Dubbing artist Bhagya Lakshmi, who had accompanied the victim during a press meet Thursday, had accused the police of harassing the woman and her husband.
"Which one of them gave you the greatest pleasure?," a police officer asked the woman when she was called to the police station after she filed a complaint against the four men, Bhagya Lakshmi had posted on Facebook.
(With agency inputs)
