Kerala: Dalit minor girl commits suicide after being raped by CPM youth-wing leader

A Dalit minor girl committed suicide after she was raped by a local leader of DYFI, youth-wing of CPM, at Kattappana in Idukki. She set herself on fire eight days ago. The victim succumbed to her injuries at the Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. The girl had suffered more than 60 percent burns.

On October 21, the girl was raped by Manu Manoj, a CPM-DYFI leader in Idukki district. He was also an autorickshaw driver in Nariyampara. Following this, the girl’s parents filed a complaint with the local police. Two days after the incident, on October 23, the girl attempted suicide.

Comrade Manu Manoj who was absconding after the incident. He was later arrested on October 24 and charged under sections of the POCSO Act.

According to reports, the rapist has been ousted from DYFI after his political links to the ruling CPM sparked a controversy. Officials of the DYFI in Idukki district had confirmed he had a membership in the party but they claimed that he didn’t hold any post.