Attempt to murder charge to be slapped against attackers of Kozhikode pregnant woman

Kozhikode Rural SP has directed to charge the attackers of a pregnant woman with "attempt to murder" as attack results in abortion

In the case of an attack on a pregnant woman, The National Commission for Minorities has asked the Superindent of Police (SP), Kozhikode Rural, to include 'attempt to murder' charges against the culprits which caused her four-month pregnancy to get aborted.

Jyotsna, a Dalit woman, her husband Sibi Chacko, a container lorry driver and their children were on the run after they were attacked by a group of six people including Kodenchery Kalathramed of Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPM) and branch secretary Thampi Thettalil, over a land dispute on January 28. Following their arrest, the family had to move to Thamarassery as they were attacked and threatened to withdraw case against the CPM leader. They were again forced to shift to Thalayad where Sibi was allegedly offered Rs 65,000 to reach an out-of-court settlement.

The vice-chairperson of the board, George Kurian, reportedly met the SP in New Delhi and directed him to add IPC section 307 as Jyotsna's four-month pregnancy got aborted as one of the accused kicked her on the stomach. A bleeding Jyotsna was rushed to the Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode but her child couldn't be saved.

CPM leader Kodenchery Kallathramed and Branch Secretary Thampi Thettalil, Prajeesh Gopalan, his mother Sarasu, Joy Puthenkandathil, Saidalvi Malanparambil and Binoy Valiya Parambil are the accused in the case who are out on bail after 22 days of remand.

The political affluence of the people had reportedly caused delay in recording arrests and initially only Prajeesh Gopalan was arrested. The rest were arrested only after the victim's family staged a protest in front of the police station. Kurian has asked the SP, MP Pushkaran to add the charges within 10 days and to provide police protection to the family as threat looms over their safety.

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