After 28-year-old Calicut resident Josna Shibi had to undergo a forced abortion because she was kicked in the stomach allegedly by a local Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI (M)) leader, the state police have now arrested seven CPI (M) activists in the case.
This includes Thamby, who is the CPI (M) branch secretary, Velankodu, and five others – Sarasama, Saidhalavi, Joy, Ranjith and Benoy. On 8 February, the police had arrested Brijeesh, who is currently on remand.
The incident occurred two weeks ago when the woman, who was four months pregnant, was forced to intervene in an argument between her husband and neighbours, Sarasama and Saidhalavi, over a land dispute.
While speaking to Times Now, Josna revealed that she decided to intervene after she saw that her husband was being physically assaulted.
“We had filed a complaint regarding the land dispute earlier with the police and the police had warned them against any unruly behaviour. A fight broke out despite the police warning, and Saidhalavi called around 6 men and they started assaulting my husband,” said Josna.
Though I called the police they cited lack of transportation as a reason not to reach out to us. I was forced to intervene and that’s when Sarasama held me and asked Thamby and Brijeesh to beat me. They kicked me in my stomach. I gave birth to a still baby the next day.Josna Shibi , the victim, to Times Now
A case has been registered in Kodanjery police station under IPC Section 143 (Member of an unlawful assembly), 147 (Punishment for rioting), 447 (Punishment for criminal trespass), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons ), 316 (Causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide) and 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object).
Meanwhile, CPI (M) leaders have denied all the charges raised against them in the incident.
In a similar incident in Kollam in November last year, a pregnant woman was dragged out of her car and kicked in the stomach by a CPI (M) man and his friends – all allegedly because her car brushed against theirs. All the accused were reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time.
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