Elderly woman alleges police assault at Kerala Secretariat while trying to meet CM

Varkala: A 79-year-old woman has alleged that she was assaulted by police personnel at the Kerala Secretariat when she went to meet the Chief Minister to submit a complaint.

The complainant, Sharada, a resident of Edava in Varkala, said the incident took place about a week ago.

According to Sharada, she had approached the Chief Minister seeking help after a neighbour allegedly failed to repay ₹2.5 lakh borrowed from her. A case registered by Ayiroor Police in connection with the dispute is currently pending before a court.

Sharada claimed she first visited the Secretariat to submit her complaint, and the Chief Minister accepted the petition and asked her to return two days later.

However, when she returned to the Secretariat, she alleged that police personnel, including women officers, denied her entry. She said she insisted that she would leave only after meeting the Chief Minister.

According to Sharada, five women police officers and three civil police officers then forcibly lifted her and placed her inside a police jeep. She alleged that she fell and hit her face during the incident. When she tried to get out of the vehicle, the officers allegedly grabbed her and dragged her back inside.

She claimed to have suffered injuries to her face, hands and legs.

Following the incident, Sharada sought treatment at Varkala Taluk Hospital. She said she had previously undergone angioplasty and is currently receiving treatment for a heart condition. The incident has been reported to the police via hospital authorities.

Police, however, expressed scepticism over the allegations, saying it was difficult to believe that such an incident could have occurred inside the Secretariat, where security is tight and there is constant movement of visitors.