Thiruvananthapuram: Sub-Inspector SG Prasad of the Peroorkada police station has been suspended following a complaint that a Dalit woman was mentally harassed after being accused of theft. As part of the detailed investigation, statements will be recorded from other police officers implicated in the case, as well as from those present at the station during the incident.

The allegation is that Bindu, a 39-year-old Dalit woman from Panavoor in Thiruvananthapuram, was subjected to hours of mental harassment at the police station after being accused of stealing a gold necklace. Bindu, who works as a maid in a household, was reportedly subjected to severe mental torture by the police.

She was taken into custody by the Peroorkada police based on a complaint from residents of Ambalamukku, who alleged that she had stolen a gold necklace from their house. The police interrogated her for nearly 20 hours. Eventually, the missing gold necklace, weighing 18 grams, was found in the complainants' house itself—the complainants being Gulf-based individuals. According to Bindu’s complaint, the police did not inform her of this and merely released her from the station without explanation.

However, instead of cancelling the FIR, the police continued with legal proceedings, prompting Bindu to file complaints with the Chief Minister, the State Police Chief, and the Scheduled Caste Commission. The incident occurred on 23 April.

In her complaint, Bindu stated that she was falsely accused of theft, detained at the station for 20 hours, and mentally tortured by the police, who pressured her to confess. She said that had she not confessed, her two daughters would also have been implicated in the case.

Humiliated and mentally devastated, Bindu attempted to meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. However, P. Sasi, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, dismissed her without granting an audience, allegedly remarking that such situations are natural when theft complaints are filed.

Following public outcry, P. Sasi later confirmed that Bindu had indeed visited his office and met him. “Recognising the seriousness of the matter, I have taken steps to inquire into the incident. However, when Bindu demanded that a case be registered against the woman who had lodged the false complaint, I advised her to approach the court,” he said.

The Home Department has now initiated a probe into the incident, and further action is expected against additional officers who were on duty at the Peroorkada Police Station at the time.