'Did you sell daughter to buy this car," officer asks mother of child abuse victim

Mother of a differently abled girl who went to file a complaint against a neighbour for allegedly abusing her daughter was shocked by the response of the police officer in charge.

The Additional Sub Inspector of Police of Erumappetty Police Station allegedly showered abuses on the woman and even said that she was forcing her 12-year-old daughter for prostitution. What irked the police officer the most was that the woman reached in her own car to the station.

'Did you sell your daughter to buy this car," Police officer allegedly asked the woman.  She also alleged that the police officer wanted her to withdraw the complaint. "Just as I reached the police station, SI TD Jose forcefully opened the door of the car and started showering abuses," the woman told media persons. "How do you make money, did you sell your daughter, he asked me," she added.

This is what the woman told media: "Are you running a working women's hostel or a woman trafficking centre, the police officer asked me. How come you get support of so many police officials who called here recommending for you? Have you presented her to them also or did you sleep with them, the SI said."

The mother of the 12-year-old girl had filed a complaint against her neighbour and his son for allegedly abusing her daughter. The woman said she was under tremendous pressure to withdraw the complaint. She also said that a group of nearly 30 people, including the two suspects in the case, attacked her after filing the complaint.

The government has taken serious note of the incident and has suspended ASI TD Jose with immediate effect. The district police chief was directed to submit a report on the case. The neighbour and son, who allegedly abused the minor girl, have been remanded under different sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Another case has been registered against 30 people for attacking the woman and her daughter.

• Child abuse victim
• Kerala police
• SI suspended