High drama as Kerala actor’s ‘molester’ held in court

Kerala police yesterday arrested two men from a courtroom in connection with the abduction and sexual assault of a leading actress in a moving car in Kochi last week.There was high drama as police dragged Sunil Kumar and Vijeesh out of court and bundled them into a vehicle as the duo tried to force their way into the Ernakulam additional chief judicial magistrate’s chamber during lunch break even as lawyers tried to stop them.The two had sneaked into the courtroom in an attempt to surrender before the judge as the court had deferred a decision on their anticipatory bail to March 3 and the police had launched a manhunt.Irked at the police entering the courtroom premises, the judge later directed the police to record the arrest immediately and produce the duo in court within 24 hours.Kumar, a Perumbavoor native, is also known as Pulsar Suni after stealing a bike at the age of 19. His accomplice hails from the northern Kannur district.The horrifying attack shocked the state and prompted the film industry to hold protests in three major cities. Others took to social media to support the actor. They also lashed out at the police for the delay in arresting the suspects.The police have come under increasing attack for their failure to catch the suspects whom the 30-year-old actor said had assaulted her for nearly two hours after hijacking her car on Friday evening.Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and police chief, Loknath Behera, congratulated the policemen while the opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party said the government should thank the criminals for making themselves available for arrest.“The police who allowed the suspects to roam around the city even after being alerted to the crime almost immediately have cut a sorry figure again,” local legislator P T Thomas told Gulf Times. It was Thomas who helped and encouraged the actor to lodge a police complaint“I suspect something fishy. The police have always been maintaining that the culprits have left the city. Then how come they could reach the court so freely today? The mystery has only deepened.”The Congress leader, who had been planning a 48-hour fast from today, said the court drama had been scripted by police to avoid the “dreaded criminals” giving a statement in court that could embarrass the government.“It’s hard to believe the police claims. The government has been soft-pedalling the investigation right from the onset. The truth should come out,” he demanded.“The police chief was alerted to the crime at 11pm, and when I contacted the city police commissioner at 12.15am, he was not aware of it. They did not arrest the suspects even after tracing the main accused’s cell phone location,” Thomas claimed.Actor Manju Warrier, who expressed satisfaction over the capture of her friend’s tormentors, reiterated her allegation that there was a conspiracy behind the abduction and assault which the suspects apparently filmed so as to blackmail the actor.Police had earlier arrested four people for helping the main accused in the crime.Kerala has seen a steep rise in crimes against women, from 12,385 in 2015 to 14,061 in 2016, including 1,644 rapes and 4,035 cases of molestation and increasing attacks on children.Women say they fear going out at night in the state without a male companion. The state, incidentally, boasts of the highest literacy and quality of life.Governor P Sathasivam, meanwhile, announced plans for a registry of sex offenders, the first-of-its-kind in India.“The registry will contain all identification details of sex offenders and will be kept in public domain,” Sathasivam said.“It will be the first in the country,” he added.He also announced a comprehensive relief fund for victims of sex crimes. “Though the Nirbhaya cell under the department of social justice has been functioning commendably in the state, Kerala lacked a comprehensive victim relief fund,” he said.“Although some of the victims get some money, the relief due to them for the damages they suffer are delayed due to this shortcoming. The government will set up a comprehensive victim relief fund to provide interim relief for victims of sex crimes, both children and adults,” he added, blaming the spurt in such crimes on the lack of social deterrence.