Kerala: Laxity in police probe, ex-Haritha leaders tell panel

KOZHIKODE: Former state leaders of Haritha, the women’s wing of Muslim Students Federation (MSF), gave their statement before the Kerala women's commission in connection with the complaint they had lodged against male MSF leaders, accused of making anti-women and sexually coloured remarks against them.
Former state president of Haritha, Mufeeda Thesni and general secretary Najma Thabsheera, who appeared before the commission at the mega adalat held at the Town Hall in Kozhikode on Monday, complained that there was laxity in the police investigation into the case.
“We have pointed out the laxity in the probe before the commission. We suspect that the initial speed in the investigation is missing now,” Mufeeda and Najma told media after attending the hearing.
The investigating officer of the case had gone on leave some days back.
Acting on the complaint of former Haritha leaders, the Chemmangad police had in Septemeber recorded the arrest of MSF state president P K Navas under IPC Sections 354-A (1) (iv) (making sexually coloured remarks) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman).
In their complaint, Haritha leaders said Navas had – during the MSF state committee meeting held in Kozhikode on June 22 – asked a Haritha leader to explain their opinion about an organizational matter with a remark, ‘even a prostitute would have a justification, you tell that’.
Ten Haritha leaders had lodged a complaint with the women's commission against Navas and MSF Malappuram district general secretary V Abdul Wahab which was forwarded to the police.
Women's commission chairperson P Sathidevi and member Thara M S assured the complainants that they will seek an explanation on the matter. The case will be considered again in the next sitting of the commission as well.
Though the women's commission had issued notices to P K Navas and Wahab, they didn't turn up at the hearing.
The Haritha leaders stood firm in their complaint against the male MSF leaders and also gave additional details, which they told at the press conference held on September 15.
IUML had disbanded the state committee of Haritha, citing alleged violation of party discipline after they refused to withdraw the complaint against MSF leaders.