Kerala police file appeal in Walayar minor girls’ case; CM may order re-probe

Bowing to public pressure over the acquittal of the three accused in the sensational 2017 sexual assault and murder of two minor girls at Attappalayam in Walayar, the Kerala police on Monday (October 28) filed an appeal in the Kerala high court.

With two of the accused being members of the ruling CPI (M), the mother of the deceased has accused the government of shielding them. Alleging that the probe was done in a haphazard manner, she has called for a re-investigation that would serve the ends of justice.

KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran has demanded that the case be reinvestigated by an ‘impartial agency. Also, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has alleged that there is a deliberate attempt to save the accused.

The issue reverberated in the state assembly as well where chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that his government would consider re-investigating the matter.

On Friday (October 25), the three accused were acquitted by the local court on the ground that the prosecution was unable to prove the involvement of the accused beyond doubt.

It is to be noted that two of the accused namely V Madhu and M Madhu are relatives of the deceased. The third accused Shibu happens to be a friend of the children’s father.

The elder girl, aged 13, was found dead on January 13, 2017 whereas the other child, 9, was found hanging at the house on March 4 the same year.

Investigation revealed that the two girls were sexually abused. But the probe concluded the deaths to be that of suicides.

However, doubts were raised over the dead body of the nine-year-old child hanging from a height of 8 feet from the ground – a height from which would it would have been impossible for her to kill herself.

Subsequently, five people including a 17-year-old neighbour was arrested in connection with the case. The accused were charged under POCSO and the prevention of atrocities against Scheduled Caste/Tribe Act.

The 17-year-old accused was let off by the cops after interrogation, but was later found dead.

When lapses were detected in the first phase of the investigation, action was initiated against Walayar Dy SP, Circle Inspector and Sub-inspector.