Special Report December 7 2004

Strengthen Family Values to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Kerala Woman

by R.S. Priya

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala women should unite beyond politics to present a strong fight against growing sex racket in the state, said noted writer Sugathakumari, while attending a recent seminar organized by Sthreevedi here. Paradoxically enough, around 40 women's representatives who attended the programme were supporters of various parties. To her surprise all the participants were either from Left Democratic Front (LDF) United Democratic Front (UDF) or the BJP. Sugathakumari has said that it s difficult for women to unite and lead a united movement against sex rackets, which ruin many lives in the state. Kerala is one of the most politicized states in the country and reports suggested that leaders of all the strong political groups in the state are accused in the recent sex scandals.

Causes for growth of sex rackets

Women don't have unity in Kerala, as they are divided on religious, caste or political basis. Ten years back, not many news reports about sex rackets appeared in the media. "Now-a-days media report cases of sex rackets one after another and people are used to reading such cases as routine news item. She said people tend to ignore the issue by saying, 'is it just matter of punishing a single criminal? Isn't it matter of punishing all such people who destroy women? She said the judiciary also seems to be helpless in front of powerful politicians who have enough money to appoint expert lawyers or make policemen obey them. Even though there are many honest policemen who are keen to protect law and order, political compulsions from higher officials, make them mere machines to obey orders. Sugathakumari believes that questions about accountability in sex rackets cross the mind of every Keralite who listen to the Ice Cream Parlour case or the Kiliroor case.

In the seminar there were two groups - one group argued that there is no use punishing just a single Kunjalikutty but all culprits who ruin lives of women should be penalized. The rival group stressed that corrupt politicians should be removed from power as they are misusing the power which they got through elections. "Elected members have a responsibility to use the power that they got for the welfare of people and not to ruin innocent lives," they argued.

What is reason for the unprecedented growth of sex rackets in Kerala? How young girls become part of such rackets. What should be done to break the progress of such rackets and stop the ruining of even more lives? Keralathile Laingika Peedana caseukal- oru vishakalanam, a publication of Kerala sthreevedi) gives an insight into the problems facing women and the reasons and history of sex rackets in Kerala.

Some facts about sex racket cases

Sthreevedi Discussion on Sex Rackets in Kerala

Those listed here are just a few cases which involved names of prominent people and attracted media focus. There may be even more cases of sexual abuse, which have not yet been made public. Sex racket is one of the biggest industries in Kerala which involves a huge flow of money. The physical abuse of young girls who are not even mature by age is increasing in Kerala and the number of such rackets is increasing. Ex-Chief Minister A.K.Anthony had said during an assembly session that in the span of 3 years, there were 34 sex racket cases.

From among the sex racket cases, which came in front of the public, the court could pass judgment and punish culprits on just two cases - Sooryanelli Case and Panthalam Case and that too following strong protest from women organizations like Sthreevedi and also because sincere policemen like IG. C.B. Mathew investigated the case. But the culprits of both the cases were later released on bail.

Most of the main culprits responsible in bringing girls into the network of such sex rackets have been women, be it Ajitha Begum, Lata Nair or Sreedevi. So women tend to play a role in the evolution of such a kind of racket. Only in rare cases, like that of the Thoppumpadi case was a male involved in bringing the girl into the racket. In quite a few cases, neighbours and relatives were involved in bringing such girls into these rackets.

The girl's life goes on getting ruined with each torture she has to go through physically and mentally. It should also be noted that the victims of such cases are young and illiterate girls from economically backward families. Mostly the girls are of age group under 18. The main reason for this could be that, they can be easily overpowered and also frightened, so that they would remain submissive. Even if they are let to go home, they wouldn't say about this to their parents. They will be always threatened that some blue film made with her would be made public. Many girls in schools and colleges may easily fall into the trap of such sex rackets and once they are in it, it would be impossible for them to get out. Soon they are used by high level people and she becomes a product in this trade to be bought and sold.

Usually girls with pretty good monetary as well as parental security doesn't get into such dangerous situations, unless by falling into temptations of jobs or offers of money or falling in the trap of a lover. In many cases, the girls may also be drugged while they are being physically used so that they wouldn't try to escape. It could be really dangerous as in the case of kiliroor case, where the girl who wanted to become a serial actress, fell into the trap of her own relative who pulled her into a sex racket. This creates a situation for girls, not to fully trust the women around them like their relatives or neighbours.

In most of the sex abuse cases, no immediate action is taken by the police or the court or the government to punish the criminals. Many officials in the police, courts and government are easily influenced using money, power and the girls. This weakens the strength of the case and justice is not meted out to the girl or to her family who have to suffer all the shame and pain along with her.

Even when the girls speak about people who ruined their lives, the real criminals use their money and power and save themselves from any kind of punishment. The abused girl has to repeat her story in front of the police, the media and the courts that are under the influence of money and power of politicians and rich people. By the time, decision is taken on such cases; the girl may not remain alive. The decision may be in favour of the criminal and in some cases, the real criminals are saved from even being a culprit in front of the public, with the police helping in destroying evidence at the initial levels of the case. The life of the girl would be ruined forever and the real culprits who ruined the life of the girl would roam freely in public without any kind of fear and continue to do the crime they have been committing.

What many of these officials who support the influential people forget is that, even their daughters or sisters or relatives could fall a victim to such sex rackets. We can find humanitarianism dying a pathetic death, when such a kind of trade, which ruins many lives, grows and flourishes.

What you can do to curb the growth of such sex rackets?

As long as influential people dominate our society, it would be tough to punish all criminals who are involved in such cases. The whole ruling machinery is corrupted by these influential people and a sudden change cannot be brought to ensure all criminals are punished. But the honest police officials, truthful lawyers and socially aware media people can do a lot to help change this condition.

The basic unit of the society is the family and only from a family can any kind of social modification be started. If a society has to be changed for the good, it should start from your own homes. The members of the family unit should ensure that none of the family members get involved in such rackets.

Parents should ensure that their daughters don't fall into such traps. This is pretty tough among poor people who would be ambitious to be in a better monetary condition and also wish to have a bright future for their daughter (like the Kiliroor case). The ambition for fame and money leads many girls into these traps. It may not be necessary that all such offers of jobs are traps, but before taking up the offers, it is important that the girl informs her parents about the job offer and also it is important on the side of the parents to ensure that the job offer is not a dangerous trap for their daughter.

It should also be ensured that such rackets would not get a chance to develop in schools or colleges. There should be more strict management in schools and colleges so that students wont tend to fall into this kind of traps.

Women should unite and communicate their ideas and thus help to create more awareness about such rackets and only the unity among women can help in fighting against such rackets. The students in schools and colleges should be made aware, that even they also have a good chance of falling into a racket and therefore should protect themselves from falling into such rackets and be more communicative with their parents. Parents should also be made aware that, rather than being strict with their children, they should be more open and friendly so as to ensure that their children would come and talk freely to them even if they fall into any such danger.

The role of the media and the women's organizations in bringing out such cases is immense. But all the attempts on the sides of the media and these women's organizations go useless, when the police, the court and the ministry are under the influence of these influential people who use their money and power to save themselves from being punished for their crimes.

If a girl happens to fall into such a racket and seeks justice, it is important that she doesn't come under the influence of monetary promises or threats. In many of the cases, the fear of some danger and promises of money to ensure their future life makes them change their statements, which reduces the strength of the cases and also the trust of the common people, the media and even the courts on them.

In many of the cases, politicians, police officials and such high level people are involved. But all politicians or officials are not bad. This is an important point to be noted. If a victim of sex racket goes to the police to register a complaint, it is also important to ensure that the police officials before whom she is giving her statement are honest and not under the influence of political pressure. The media and women's organizations can also help her immensely.

It is pretty tough to change the whole society. What could be done is to protect our own members from falling into such a trap. Each family has to ensure this and then only could there be a prevention of girls falling into such traps. Just like, a disease like AIDS can be prevented by precaution, the growth of these sex rackets could also be prevented if the parents are more careful to protect their children from falling into such traps.

 

Two More Keralite Girls Rescued from Sex Racket Trap in Dubai

Mafia controlled International Sex Racket Thrives in Dubai

DUBAI - September 19 2004 Following the dramatic rescue mission from brothels operating from various villas and flats in different parts of the city, two more Keralite girls have managed to escape from the iron fish of the sex mafia who lure young girls from different districts in Kerala and trap them into the multimillion sex racket. According to sources, two Malayali ladies from Ernakulam and Trichur who were brought to work as housemaids here ended up in brothels run by a strong mafia. A 28 years old lady from Ernakulam and 23 years old Trichur girl will be repatriated to Kerala within two days after completing their formalities. More

Sooryanelli Case (1996)

Former M P and Minister P J Kurien had a narrow escape from the case..

Sooryanelli case has been one of the most controversial woman abuse cases in the mid 90's. The main victim in Sooryaenelli case was a ninth standard student, when she became a victim of sex racket network. The minor girl was kept under illegal custody for around 40 days. "In the case, 35 people who were convicted were punished with severe imprisonment by the court and 4 people were let free. Following 32 appeals made by the accused in the Kerala High Court, against an earlier judgment of the court, the case hearing resumed on Nov 17th 2004. The special court punished Dharmarajan the prime suspect with lifelong imprisonment. The other acquitted people were given 10 years imprisonment. Among those who abused the girl was an ex-minister too, though he couldn't be acquitted or punished as evidence against him was cleverly destroyed. Media reports suggested that P.J.Kuriyan, a Congress Member of Parliament and Minister was one of the accused in the case. More about Rape Victims in Kerala

Sex Racket Victim from Kottayam in Coma for three months. Undergoing Treatment in Dubai Hospital

Young Nurse from a place near Kiliroor was physically assaulted, forced into prostitution racket

DUBAI -November 1, 2004 Even as the victim of Thiruvarppu sex scandal victim is struggling for life in Kerala, another young lady from Kottayam, who was send to the Gulf to work as a nurse by the sex racketeers is struggling for life at a Dubai hospital. KM learns that a 26 years old widow, a Muslim woman, who was send to Dubai to work as a "nurse" ended up in the hands of the Gulf sex mafia which has close links to the Kiliroor sex scandal and the Kozhikkodu Ice Cream Parlour case. Due to severe physical assault and forced prostitution, the young lady has been lying in a state of coma for the last three months. It is understood that the sex racket has dumped her in a hospital, claiming that she sustained serious injuries in an accident. More

Vithura Case (1996)

Another sex racket case has been that of a 16-year-old girl who was lured by Ajitha Begum, her neighbour. This minor girl too fell into sex rackets. Around 100 people sexually abused the girl during the period from October 1995 to July 1996. The case took place 8 years back and as yet none of the culprits has been punished. The first accused, Suresh is not yet caught and the second accused Ajitha Begum committed suicide. There are 55 more persons involved in the case who have to be identified. The case proceedings can be continued only if the stay submitted by film star Jagathi Sreekumar and another accused is removed. Other than Jagathi Sreekumar, the other celebrities who were involved included Excise Assistant Commissioner, Ex-D.Y.S.P etc. This sex racket too has some connection to the film serial sector as is the case with Kiliroor sex scandal.

Panthalam Case (1997)

Eight people physically abused a college girl and attempted to make a blue film. Four lecturers in the college are among those accused in the case. The special court passed judgement to punish them but they were released on bail and they even gave an appeal at the high court. N.S.S Management appointed the lecturers who were accused in the case. More Details

Kothamangalam (1997)

A case, which took place in the same year as the Panthalam case, included among the 138 people accused- a former Union Minister and P.K. Kunjalikutty, the Minister of Industry who is accused in the Kozhikkodu Ice Cream Parlour case. The case was about a 16 year old girl who was promised a job and was pulled into the sex racket trap by a neighbourhood youth.

Kozhikkode Ice Cream Parlour Case (1997)

This sensational case is still the focus of media attention. The case was brought to public attention, when a women's organization 'Anveshi' found out that a sex racket concentrated in RKS Ice Cream Parlour was run by a lady named Sreedevi in Kozhikkode. Anveshi also complained to the former Chief Minister E.K.Nayanar on Aug 4, 1997. Media reports suggested that in this sex mafia, I.A.S., I.P.S., and political leaders of U.D.F and L.D.F parties were involved. Following a raid in the Icecream Parlour, police found out the diary of Sreedevi, in which phone numbers of many prominent persons from various places in the state were recorded. Sreedevi was arrested three weeks after the raid.

Among the accused, were many other prominent people like P.K.Kunjalikutty. In the statement given by the main witness Rajeena in front of the Kozhikkode Judicial First Class Magistrate on January 6th 1998, she alleged that Kunjalikutty had physically abused her. Rajeena also stated that the convict in the case Sreedevi introduced her to P.K.Kunjalikutty and P.R.Rahman. While the enquiry on the case was in progress, two of the witnesses who were physically abused - Rajeela and Bindu changed their statements following threats and pressure tactics.

In her statements at four places, Rajeena had said that P.K.Kunjalikutty physically abused her. But later in the Kunnamangalam Court, she avoided Kunjalikutty in her statement given there and because of that Kunjalikutty was then removed from the list of the culprits.

After a span of 8 years, this case is again back into controversy, following Rajeena's confession in front of the media on 8th October 2004, that she had changed her statement avoiding Kunjalikutty's name due to threats and monetary benefits. Rajeena also said that Kunjalikutty's brother-in-law (wife's sister's husband) Rauf was the one who was giving her money and her confessions are due to their present attitude in giving money to her. Police has not yet taken up a case against Kunjalikutty, even though there was enough evidence against Kunjalikutty in Rajeena's statement. The case is still continuing with Rajeena changing her statements every now and then, perhaps due to some sort of threat or further monetary promises to ensure safety of her life and also her kid's life. Muslim League is continuing to strongly support their leader and U.D.F is keeping mum on this case, as they would lose power if they take action against Kunjalikutty. Muslim League is the second main constituent of UDF.

Thoppumpadi Case (2002)

A 17-year-old girl who came for work fell into the trap of sex racketeers because of an auto rickshaw driver. This girl was abused by almost 250 people including a film director and was also used in a blue film. The police submitted wrong evidence showing the girl as mature. The culprits are not yet taken into custody. The girl's mother had demanded that the case enquiry should be left to the C.B.I. Like all other sex scandals, this case too has reached nowhere. The latest sex racket case, which made headlines, came out in 2004 - which is the Kiliroor Case.

Malayalis arrested for kidnapping Malayali girls from Gulf airports

Dubai and Muscat: Giving another sensational dimension to the growing sex trafficking from Kerala to various Gulf countries, two Malayali ladies from Trichur, were kidnapped and illegally kept in brothels. One of the girls was sold by a Malayali agent to another brothel just for Omani Rial 300 (Rs.35,000)! More

Dubai Sex Racket Hundreds of Innocent Girls Trapped More

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