Dalit sisters' imprisonment: Opposition cries 'political intolerance' by CPM in Kerala

The arrest and imprisonment of Dalit sisters and a toddler for allegedly attacking Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) at Thalasssery in Kerala has emerged as a major political controversy after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan evaded questions on the issue.

The Chief Minister said that he had nothing to comment on the issue. Ask the police, he told media persons who sought his comment on the issue after one of the Dalit sisters, who was remanded in a complaint filed by the CPM local leadership, tried to commit suicide on Saturday. 
 

Also read: Dalit sisters 'attack' CPM office in Kerala alleging casteist abuse
 

In a strongly worded statement, Congress state chief VM Sudheeran questioned the silence of Vijayan on the matter. The Chief Minister's response on the issue is shocking. "Criminal gangs are having a field day in Chief Minister's land," Sudheeran said. The CPM should correct its activists who use force to silence those who are against the party. The police in Kannur is behaving like CPM cadres, he alleged. 
 

Also read: Congress condemns arrest of Dalit women, toddler
 

Akhila and Anjana, daughters of a Congress local leader, were booked for allegedly attacking a CPM office at Thalassery and assaulting a party worker. On complaints filed by the CPM, the police summoned the sisters on Friday and recorded their arrest under non-bailable offence and put them behind bars along with Akhila's two-year-old daughter. The sisters got bail on Saturday morning. In a tragic turn of events, one of the sisters tried to commit suicide after getting out on bail. Admitted to a hospital nearby, the girl is out of danger now. 

 The Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman RL Puniya has ordered an inquiry into the issue. State police chief Loknath Behera has also called for a probe. 

Enraged by alleged casteist remarks, the Dalit sisters confronted the CPM activists at Thalassery on June 12, triggering a series of incidents. Alleging that the sisters assaulted their workers, some CPM men attacked their father and vandalised their house. Police arrested three CPM workers in connection with the incident. In a counter case, the CPM local leaders alleged that the sisters attacked their office with lethal weapons. 

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• Intolerance