Social boycott: Kin of complainant assaulted

KOZHIKODE: The controversy over the alleged ostracization of a young couple by members of the Yadava community in Wayanad took a violent late on Monday after the lawyer, parents and brother of the woman – who had complained of the social boycott –were allegedly beaten up during a temple festival.Sukanya MG (24) and her husband Arun Prasad (27) had recently sent a petition to the prime minister saying that they had been subjected to ostracization for the past four-and-a-half years by community leaders who objected to their love marriage in 2012.Her parents Govindraj MP and Sujatha, brother Gokul Raj and advocate Sreejith Perumana were admitted to the district hospital at Mananthavady after they were allegedly beaten up during the procession held as part of the festival at Kanchi Kamakshiyamman temple at Erumathervu near Mananthavady at 10.30pm on Monday.Govindraj said that a group of people belonging to the community started beating up Sreejith when he tried to film the procession. “They manhandled us when we tried to stop them,” he said adding that the attack seemed to be a planned one aimed at the lawyer who had come forward to support them. Mananthavady police have taken a case against six persons on the basis of the complaint by Sreejith. Meanwhile, police have also registered a case against Sreejith on the basis of a complaint from a temple committee office-bearer that he misbehaved with women. tnn