It was an evening, like any other, in Jan '17. Nine-year-old Sharanya was playing at her grandmother's house . In the evening, she was back home to check on her elder sister, 14-year-old Hrittika, who said she was unwell and had not gone to school that day.
Sharanya would never have anticipated the sight that greeted her as she entered her one-room makeshift house at Walayar in Kerala's Palakkad district - Hrittika, suspended from the roof, a noose made of cloth around her neck!
The death of their elder child terribly aggrieved the parents, Shaji and Bhagyavathi. Little did they know however, that in less than two months, they would find Sharanya in the same state, at the same spot - immobile and hung from the ceiling. The date - 04 Mar '17! Safely tucked away inside Sharanya's petticoat was a photograph of her elder sister.
While Hrittika's death did not garner much media attention in January, her sister's death in March created widespread shock.
Days later, the police revealed that the siblings were victims of child sexual abuse. It was a tale of suffocating silence, which eventually extinguished the girls' will to live.
Following Sharanya's death, the police arrested five people who allegedly sexually abused her and Hrittika. One of them, a juvenile was granted bail. The rest of the accused - V Madhu, Shibu, Pradeep Kumar and M Madhu - continue to be in judicial custody. The accused have been booked under IPC section 305 (Abetment to suicide), 376 (Rape), SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, various sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the juvenile act.
Following factors are discernible:-
* M Madhu sexually abused the younger sister, Sharanya.
* Shibu abused the elder sister, Hrittika.
* All the other three accused allegedly abused both siblings.
* Sharanya was subjected to sexual abuse after Hrittika's death.
* Two of the accused are closely related to the children .
* Hrittika had complained to her mother, who opted to keep quiet, as she feared that the relationship
within the family would sour.
* The prosecution had failed to produce strong evidence.
* Some of the accused are CPM activists!
A POCSO court has acquitted all the accused for want of evidence. Hence, the outrage!
Diary of events.
*13 Jan '17 The elder daughter of two daily-wage labourers found hanging inside their home,
at Attapallam, Walayar. Their were suspicions about her death as her nine-year-old
sibling had seen two masked persons running away from their house. Though the
cops arrested a youth on suspicion, he was let off the same day.
*03 Feb Autopsy performed.
*04 Mar Sibling found hanging in the same house. There were doubts over her death as there
was no explanation as to how she couldn't have possibly tied a knot on the roof and
hung herself given her short stature. Case investigated by three teams.
*06 Mar ASP Pugalenthi visits the house to collect evidence.Special probe team formed.
SHRC registers case.
*07 Mar Cops arrest three more persons. Thrissur IG Ajith Kumar and doctors confirm
multiple sexual assaults in both cases.
*08 Mar Allegations arise over improper investigation. DGP Behera says that DGP Rajesh
Dewan will handle probe. Investigation team reconstituted. Walayar SP PC Chacko
dropped. Case given to DySP(District Narcotics Cell) MJ Sojan.
*09 Mar Cops arrest V Madhu of Pampampallam and Shiju of Rajakkad, a neighbour.
Chacko suspended. Thrissur IG seeks departmental inquiry against DySP
Vasudevan CI Vipindas.
*10 Mar M Madhu, mother's nephew and Pradeep Kumar from Cherthala arrested.
*13 Mar All four sent to police custody. for four days.
*15 Mar Cops begin collection of evidence.
*18 Mar A sixteen year-old arrested and lodged at juvenile home.
*25 Apr Praveen(29) of Pampampallam, one of the accused, found hanging on a tree at a
deserted spot. Cops had summoned him.
*22 Jun Police file chargesheets against four accused, except the juvenile. They say the
deaths were suicide.
*16 Oct '19 Third accused Kumar acquitted by POCSO Court.
*25 Oct V Madu, M Madhu and Shibu also acquitted.
My take.
Saddened by the sordid story. The guys responsible should be punished without delay!
Tailpiece.
Started from Gottigere, Bangalore by 10' past 6. After topping up the Chevy and checking tyre pressure, we set off on our return trip. Thanks to the early morning take off, traffic was minimal and we could have breakfast, about 20 kms short of Salem. The drive was sheer enjoyment because of the beautiful highway and the continuous and non-stop chatter between Lekha, Rema, Padmakumar and me. Lunch was at Palakkad and after that, the road was bad, full of potholes.
Was back at 'The Quarterdeck' at a half past 4. Rema and Padmakumar stayed put the night to catch the early morning train to Thrippunithura and onward to Pidavoor.
A nice and enjoyable trip!
Sharanya would never have anticipated the sight that greeted her as she entered her one-room makeshift house at Walayar in Kerala's Palakkad district - Hrittika, suspended from the roof, a noose made of cloth around her neck!
The death of their elder child terribly aggrieved the parents, Shaji and Bhagyavathi. Little did they know however, that in less than two months, they would find Sharanya in the same state, at the same spot - immobile and hung from the ceiling. The date - 04 Mar '17! Safely tucked away inside Sharanya's petticoat was a photograph of her elder sister.
While Hrittika's death did not garner much media attention in January, her sister's death in March created widespread shock.
Days later, the police revealed that the siblings were victims of child sexual abuse. It was a tale of suffocating silence, which eventually extinguished the girls' will to live.
Following Sharanya's death, the police arrested five people who allegedly sexually abused her and Hrittika. One of them, a juvenile was granted bail. The rest of the accused - V Madhu, Shibu, Pradeep Kumar and M Madhu - continue to be in judicial custody. The accused have been booked under IPC section 305 (Abetment to suicide), 376 (Rape), SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, various sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the juvenile act.
Following factors are discernible:-
* M Madhu sexually abused the younger sister, Sharanya.
* Shibu abused the elder sister, Hrittika.
* All the other three accused allegedly abused both siblings.
* Sharanya was subjected to sexual abuse after Hrittika's death.
* Two of the accused are closely related to the children .
* Hrittika had complained to her mother, who opted to keep quiet, as she feared that the relationship
within the family would sour.
* The prosecution had failed to produce strong evidence.
* Some of the accused are CPM activists!
A POCSO court has acquitted all the accused for want of evidence. Hence, the outrage!
Diary of events.
*13 Jan '17 The elder daughter of two daily-wage labourers found hanging inside their home,
at Attapallam, Walayar. Their were suspicions about her death as her nine-year-old
sibling had seen two masked persons running away from their house. Though the
cops arrested a youth on suspicion, he was let off the same day.
*03 Feb Autopsy performed.
*04 Mar Sibling found hanging in the same house. There were doubts over her death as there
was no explanation as to how she couldn't have possibly tied a knot on the roof and
hung herself given her short stature. Case investigated by three teams.
*06 Mar ASP Pugalenthi visits the house to collect evidence.Special probe team formed.
SHRC registers case.
*07 Mar Cops arrest three more persons. Thrissur IG Ajith Kumar and doctors confirm
multiple sexual assaults in both cases.
*08 Mar Allegations arise over improper investigation. DGP Behera says that DGP Rajesh
Dewan will handle probe. Investigation team reconstituted. Walayar SP PC Chacko
dropped. Case given to DySP(District Narcotics Cell) MJ Sojan.
*09 Mar Cops arrest V Madhu of Pampampallam and Shiju of Rajakkad, a neighbour.
Chacko suspended. Thrissur IG seeks departmental inquiry against DySP
Vasudevan CI Vipindas.
*10 Mar M Madhu, mother's nephew and Pradeep Kumar from Cherthala arrested.
*13 Mar All four sent to police custody. for four days.
*15 Mar Cops begin collection of evidence.
*18 Mar A sixteen year-old arrested and lodged at juvenile home.
*25 Apr Praveen(29) of Pampampallam, one of the accused, found hanging on a tree at a
deserted spot. Cops had summoned him.
*22 Jun Police file chargesheets against four accused, except the juvenile. They say the
deaths were suicide.
*16 Oct '19 Third accused Kumar acquitted by POCSO Court.
*25 Oct V Madu, M Madhu and Shibu also acquitted.
My take.
Saddened by the sordid story. The guys responsible should be punished without delay!
Tailpiece.
Started from Gottigere, Bangalore by 10' past 6. After topping up the Chevy and checking tyre pressure, we set off on our return trip. Thanks to the early morning take off, traffic was minimal and we could have breakfast, about 20 kms short of Salem. The drive was sheer enjoyment because of the beautiful highway and the continuous and non-stop chatter between Lekha, Rema, Padmakumar and me. Lunch was at Palakkad and after that, the road was bad, full of potholes.
Was back at 'The Quarterdeck' at a half past 4. Rema and Padmakumar stayed put the night to catch the early morning train to Thrippunithura and onward to Pidavoor.
A nice and enjoyable trip!
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