Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Women's panel visits Sri Lankan woman in jail

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 8. The Women's Commission chairperson, M. Kamalam, on Friday visited the Sri Lankan refugee, Santhi, at the Central Prison here.

The 40-year-old woman had complained of sexual harassment at the hands of Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) officials after she was arrested in connection with the seizure of 9.5 kg of heroin on April 1.

Ms. Kamalam told The Hindu that Santhi had told her that she was harassed by two officials at the NCB office at Poojappura at around 11 p.m. on April 2. Santhi told the commission that the woman police constable escorting her was not at the NCB office at the time of the alleged incident. The constable had reportedly gone home on the evening of April 2 and was replaced by another woman constable only the next morning.

Santhi told the commission that the two officials summoned her to a room. Santhi said that she was sexually assaulted by the officials in the room. One of the officials spoke fluent Tamil. The commission recorded her statement. Further action would be taken in the case after seeking the opinion of the other members.

Doctors' statement

The forensic doctors who examined Santhi on Thursday at the Central Prison have told the police that the wounds on her body were between three and seven days old.

The investigators are yet to get the detailed medical examination report.

The woman constable who was with Santhi at the NCB office on April 2 has been questioned. The police were also trying to find out whether any persons, including lawyers, met Santhi at the Central Prison.

The police are also investigating the Sri Lankan national, Subash Chandra Bose, who was arrested along with Santhi. He was questioned in connection with the destruction of a substantial portion of 9.5 kg of heroin seized by the NCB.

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