Attack on cop probing witchcraft allegation: 3 Alappuzha women sentenced to 13 years

Mavelikkara: A court in Mavelikkara sentenced three women to 13 years in prison and to pay a fine of Rs 50,000 each in the case of brutally assaulting a female cop who came to investigate a complaint.

The bench of Additional District Court Three Judge S.S. Seena convicted Athira (Chinnu-23), her mother Shobhana (50), and her sister Rohini (48) in the case of assaulting Meena Kumari (59), a former inspector in Alappuzha Women's Cell. The order also directs the accused to pay Rs 1 lakh out of the total fine to Meena Kumari.

The incident pertaining to the case happened on April 23, 2016, at 5 p.m. 51 residents of a colony in Palamel Grama Panchayat in Alappuzha had submitted a complaint to the collector that the Athira was practicing witchcraft and sorcery. 

Later, Meena Kumari, a female civil police officer named Lekha, and jeep driver Ullas came to investigate the complaint. 

Meena Kumari also informed the accused about the complaint and advised Athira to stop witchcraft and continue her education. She also asked her to appear before the women's cell on April 26. 

However, Meena Kumari later told police in a statement that Athira, Shobhana, and Rohini assaulted her without provocation. Meena Kumari, who suffered serious injuries to her toe, was rescued by police officials who accompanied her. She was admitted to Vandanam Medical College and later to a private hospital in Ernakulam.

Later, the Nooranad police registered a case, but the chargesheet filed in court only named Athira as the sole accused in the incident. Following the complaint given by Meena Kumari to the senior police officials, Mavelikkara Inspector P. Sreekumar launched a re-investigation in September 2017 and named Shobhana and Rohini in the chargesheet filed in the court.