Author: D Jose in Trivandrum
Publication: Rediff
on Net
Date: September 7, 2000
The heavy punishment
handed out to 35 accused in the sensational Suryanelli sex scandal by a
special court on Wednesday has boosted the morale of women activists in
Kerala.
K Ajitha, president of
Anweshi, a women's organisation which uncovered the Kozhikode sex scandal,
has termed the judgement a victory for women.
"We would have been much
happier if former Union minister, P J Kurien, one of the accused in the
case, was brought to the book too," she told rediff.com.
The sex scandal, which
shook the state, involved an eight-year-old girl, who was raped repeatedly
by several people in different parts of the state.
Many women activists
said that the special court judge had done a commendable job by holding
marathon sessions for more than six months, bringing 35 of the 39 accused
to the book.
The judge slapped jail
terms and fines on all the 35 convicted in the case. The total fine amounting
Rs 435,000 and will go to the victim.
The prime accused --
Idukki Konnathadi Puthuchirayil Raju and Chirakkadavu Thekkethukavala Kottadikunnel
Usha - have both been sentenced to 13 years' of rigorous imprisonment and
a fine of Rs 15,000 each. The rest have been given jail terms ranging from
4 years to 13 years.
Ajitha said Anweshi would
now demand trial of all sex scam cases, including the Kozhikode and Vithura
scandals, in special courts.
The Vithura sex scandal
is similar to the Suryanelli case. It involves a minor who was taken around
Kerala and Tamil Nadu and raped repeatedly.
"The Vithura case is
over six years old now. There are some very powerful people involved in
the case...the delay suits them," Ajitha said.
A prominent name figuring
in the Vithura case is that of noted Malayam comedian Jagati Sreekumar.
