Kerala Dalit woman held in custody for 20 hrs without food, water; SI suspended
In a disturbing incident in Kerala, a Dalit woman was held in police custody for over 20 hours without access to food or water, following a false theft accusation by her employer. The sub-inspector responsible for the detention has been suspended, and a high-level investigation is underway
Bindu, a 39-year-old Dalit domestic worker from Peroorkada, was detained on April 23 after her employer accused her of stealing a 2.5 sovereign gold chain. Despite her denial and lack of evidence, she was threatened with implicating her daughters and was kept in custody without basic amenities. She was reportedly told to drink from the toilet when she requested water. The woman was released only after the employer found the missing chain the next morning
Seeking justice, Bindu approached the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) with her lawyer. However, her complaint was allegedly ignored, and she was humiliated by officials, including the CM’s political secretary, who dismissed her petition without review.The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the case and ordered a high-level probe led by an officer from outside Thiruvananthapuram district. The investigation will include reviewing CCTV footage, custody records, and determining any violations under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The SHRC has set a July 3 deadline for further review.
Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan condemned the incident, stating that it reflects a broader pattern of authoritarian police rule in the state. He criticized the government’s lavish spending on anniversary celebrations amid a financial crisis, highlighting the disparity between the state’s priorities and the treatment of marginalized communities
This incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability and reform within Kerala’s law enforcement agencies. Activists and human rights organizations are demanding justice for Bindu and urging the government to take immediate action to prevent such abuses in the future.
