Thiruvananthapuram/Kozhikode, Kerala Women's Commission on Wednesday criticized the police stance regarding the complaint of a newly married woman who accused her husband of brutally attacking her over dowry and attempting to kill her.
Kerala Women's Commission (KWC) chairperson P Satidevi said police officers who think husbands have the right to physically harm their wives are "an insult to the force" and called for the need for gender sensitization training of Kerala Police personnel. Insisted.
He told reporters in the state capital that the KWC received a complaint from the victim yesterday and immediately called the SHO of Panthirankaw police station, under whose jurisdiction the groom's family lives, to know the details.
“In the complaint we received, there were serious allegations of serious cruelty meted out to the woman at her in-laws house and she was admitted to the hospital in connection with this. However, when she went to the police station, her claims were not taken seriously."Instead, what I understood is that the police advocated for the woman to resolve the matter and continue living with her husband despite facing so much brutality," Satidevi said.
Criticizing the police stance in the case, the KWC president said, "Police officers who think that husbands have the right to physically harm their wives are an insult to the force."
He said he came to know through news reports that the investigating officer and his team have been replaced with other officers and called it a welcome move.
Satidevi also called for a change in the social mindset that leads to dowry-related harassment of women, especially those who are well educated.
He said that in recent times, many such cases have come to light where educated women have faced dowry related harassment before and after marriage."There are still people who view women as a commodity and marriage as a commercial transaction. This needs to change. This requires amendments in relevant laws and rules," he said.
Earlier in the day, the bride's in-laws denied allegations that they had demanded dowry.
The groom's mother claimed that her daughter-in-law was refusing to live in the marital home and this led to an argument between the couple and later a fight."We never demanded dowry because we don't need it," the woman told TV channels.
Meanwhile, the bride's father said he does not expect the Pantheerankavu police to conduct a proper investigation.
“They (police) did not take the matter seriously,” he claimed.
He said the case should be transferred to Ernakulam district and demanded strict punishment for the accused groom.
He said, “I have sent complaints to the Kerala Chief Minister, Women Commission and Aluva SP.In those complaints he has sought justice for his daughter."
Regarding reports that the police have assured that they will add charges of attempt to murder against the accused, the bride's father said that it would be good if I do so.
After the allegations of the bride and her family came to light on Tuesday and were aired on TV channels, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) registered a suo motu case and ordered a probe.
The SHRC directed the Kozhikode city police commissioner to conduct a detailed investigation and submit a report within 15 days.
The bride had alleged that barely a week after their marriage on May 5, her husband brutally assaulted her over dowry and attempted to kill her.As news of the alleged attack spread, Minister of State for Health and Women and Child Development Veena George had said that all assistance, including legal aid, would be provided to the victim.
Terming the attack on the newly married woman as extremely cruel and conscience-shocking, the minister had said that strict legal action would be taken to stop people from committing such crimes and advised the society to unite against social evils like dowry. Domestic violence.
Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, VD Satheesan, had criticized the police's inaction in the case and asked whether it was with the victim or the criminals.
Kerala Women's Commission (KWC) chairperson P Satidevi said police officers who think husbands have the right to physically harm their wives are "an insult to the force" and called for the need for gender sensitization training of Kerala Police personnel. Insisted.
He told reporters in the state capital that the KWC received a complaint from the victim yesterday and immediately called the SHO of Panthirankaw police station, under whose jurisdiction the groom's family lives, to know the details.
“In the complaint we received, there were serious allegations of serious cruelty meted out to the woman at her in-laws house and she was admitted to the hospital in connection with this. However, when she went to the police station, her claims were not taken seriously."Instead, what I understood is that the police advocated for the woman to resolve the matter and continue living with her husband despite facing so much brutality," Satidevi said.
Criticizing the police stance in the case, the KWC president said, "Police officers who think that husbands have the right to physically harm their wives are an insult to the force."
He said he came to know through news reports that the investigating officer and his team have been replaced with other officers and called it a welcome move.
Satidevi also called for a change in the social mindset that leads to dowry-related harassment of women, especially those who are well educated.
He said that in recent times, many such cases have come to light where educated women have faced dowry related harassment before and after marriage."There are still people who view women as a commodity and marriage as a commercial transaction. This needs to change. This requires amendments in relevant laws and rules," he said.
Earlier in the day, the bride's in-laws denied allegations that they had demanded dowry.
The groom's mother claimed that her daughter-in-law was refusing to live in the marital home and this led to an argument between the couple and later a fight."We never demanded dowry because we don't need it," the woman told TV channels.
Meanwhile, the bride's father said he does not expect the Pantheerankavu police to conduct a proper investigation.
“They (police) did not take the matter seriously,” he claimed.
He said the case should be transferred to Ernakulam district and demanded strict punishment for the accused groom.
He said, “I have sent complaints to the Kerala Chief Minister, Women Commission and Aluva SP.In those complaints he has sought justice for his daughter."
Regarding reports that the police have assured that they will add charges of attempt to murder against the accused, the bride's father said that it would be good if I do so.
After the allegations of the bride and her family came to light on Tuesday and were aired on TV channels, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) registered a suo motu case and ordered a probe.
The SHRC directed the Kozhikode city police commissioner to conduct a detailed investigation and submit a report within 15 days.
The bride had alleged that barely a week after their marriage on May 5, her husband brutally assaulted her over dowry and attempted to kill her.As news of the alleged attack spread, Minister of State for Health and Women and Child Development Veena George had said that all assistance, including legal aid, would be provided to the victim.
Terming the attack on the newly married woman as extremely cruel and conscience-shocking, the minister had said that strict legal action would be taken to stop people from committing such crimes and advised the society to unite against social evils like dowry. Domestic violence.
Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, VD Satheesan, had criticized the police's inaction in the case and asked whether it was with the victim or the criminals.
