Dalit rape case: CPI (M) demands Enquiry Committee headed by high ranking woman officer

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday condemned the brutal rape and murder of a Dalit woman in Perumbavoor, Kerala and accused the Congress-led UDF government and the state police of initially trying to cover up the crime adding that an enquiry committee must be set up to probe the case.

"Instead of acting firmly while dealing with such cases, it is shameful that the state police and the Congress-led UDF government initially tried to cover up this heinous crime. Such behaviour on the part of the police and the administration is reprehensible and cannot be tolerated by any civilized society. It was thanks to a vigilant media and the massive public outcry that followed that forced the police to finally act," the party said in a statement.

The CPI (M) also demanded that the investigation into the brutal rape should be entrusted to an enquiry committed headed by a high ranking woman police official and immediate steps should be taken to apprehend the culprits and bring them to book through fast track courts, in lines with the amendments brought into criminal laws after the Nirbhaya incident.

The party asserted that proceedings should also be launched against those who attempted to cover up the case.

The 29-year-old woman was murdered after being brutally raped inside her home, near an isolated stretch, at Vattolippidi Canal Bund near Perumbavoor in District Ernakulam.

Her body had at least 30 injuries, including on the private parts. Reportedly, the assault on her stomach was such that the small intestine had spilled out.

Asserting that 'swift' action would be taken against the perpetrators of the brutal rape and murder of the student, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who met the family members of the victim today, said his government would do the 'necessary' towards the demands of the victim's family, who have asked for a job for the victim's sister.

"This incident is a shame to the state. We've decided to give all assistance to family. Her Family wants to get a job for the sister of the deceased girl, will do the necessary," Chandy told ANI.

Chandy also said that the state government has decided to give Rs 10lakh as compensation to the victim's family.

The police have taken two persons into custody, who were questioned by a police team headed by Ernakulam Range IG Mahipal Yadav.