Congress party workers staged a significant demonstration in Kochi on Saturday, marching to the Kadavanthra police station. Their protest centered on serious allegations of an attempt to derail the investigation into a sensitive case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Allegations and Counter-Allegations in a Complex Case
The core of the dispute involves two interconnected cases. The first is a POCSO case filed by the father of a 9-year-old girl. He alleges that on October 25, a 17-year-old boy, described as a distant relative, sexually harassed his daughter while she was learning to ride a bicycle.
However, the situation took a complicated turn just two days after the incident. An FIR was registered against the girl's father himself. The police complaint states that on the same day, October 25, the father physically assaulted the teenage boy, allegedly kicking and hitting him. The boy reportedly fell onto an autorickshaw, sustaining injuries to his rib.
Political Interference Claims and Police Response
The father of the survivor has secured anticipatory bail in the case filed against him. He firmly contends that the assault case was foisted upon him as a retaliatory measure following the filing of the POCSO case against the minor boy. Adding another layer to the controversy, there are allegations of political interference aimed at settling the case.
Police sources have responded to the Congress protest by asserting that the investigation into the POCSO case is progressing effectively. They acknowledged the complexity of the situation but maintained that both cases are prima facie maintainable. Authorities stated that the probe is moving forward well and a chargesheet will be filed soon.
Legal and Social Implications
This case highlights the challenging legal and social dynamics often surrounding sensitive offenses. The involvement of a minor as the accused under POCSO laws, coupled with a counter-allegation of violence against the complainant's family, creates a fraught scenario for investigators. The protest by political workers underscores the public scrutiny and pressure on law enforcement to ensure a transparent and unbiased process.
While the police assure progress, the protestors demand guarantees that the pursuit of justice in the alleged sexual harassment of a child is not compromised. The coming days are crucial as the police work towards filing the chargesheet, which will formally outline the evidence and charges in the POCSO case.
