There was commotion in front of Police Commissioner’s office in Coimbatore today as members of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) picketed the office, condemning the failure of the police in arresting the cop who was charged with abusing a girl under his custody.

Constable Kamalanathan is working in the intelligence section of the city police. He had brought a relative from Sathyamangalam as a domestic help to work in his residence. The girl complained to her mother that Kamalanathan had been sexually abusing her. The mother lodged a complaint at the B-4 Police Station.

Since the police were taking their time to register a case, the AIDWA members picketed the station a few days ago and subsequently a case was registered against Kamalanathan. Following that the girl gave her confidential statement before the Judge and even after that Kamalanathan was not arrested.

The AIDWA members alleged that the police had registered the case just to hoodwink and did not really mean to take action against the culprit.

So, today the AIDWA members took out a procession from the District Collectorate to the Police Commissioner’s office under the leadership of State Vice President N. Amirtham, shouting slogans, demanding justice for the affected girl and immediate arrest of Kamalanathan.

The police force tried to prevent them, but they marched ahead and pushed the closed doors of the Commissioner’s office and staged picketing. Then the police officers pacified the agitators and allowed their representatives to meet the Police Commissioner.

A team consisting of State Vice President N. Amirtham, District President Amutha, Secretary A. Radhika, State Committee member Rajalakshmi and District office bearers Santha and Pankajalakshmi met the City Police Commissioner A. K. Viswanathan and demanded the immediate arrest of Kamalanathan.

Later, talking to the press, the AIDWA leaders said that all the police officers, right from the lowest to the highest ranks, was trying to protect the culprit instead of punishing him. A petition was submitted to the City Police Commissioner and he had assured to take action. If they failed to take suitable action, the AIDWA would intensify its struggle pressing the demand.