Special Report December
7 2004
Strengthen Family Values to
Prevent Sexual Abuse of Kerala Woman http://www.keralamonitor.com/sxscandals.htm
by R.S. Priya
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala women should unite beyond
politics to present a strong fight against
growing sex racket in the state, said noted
writer Sugathakumari, while attending a recent
seminar organized by Sthreevedi here.
Paradoxically enough, around 40 women's
representatives who attended the programme were
supporters of various parties. To her surprise
all the participants were either from Left
Democratic Front (LDF) United Democratic Front
(UDF) or the BJP. Sugathakumari has said that it
s difficult for women to unite and lead a united
movement against sex rackets, which ruin many
lives in the state. Kerala is one of the most
politicized states in the country and reports
suggested that leaders of all the strong
political groups in the state are accused in the
recent sex scandals.
Causes for growth of sex
rackets
Women don't have unity in
Kerala, as they are divided on religious, caste
or political basis. Ten years back, not many news
reports about sex rackets appeared in the media.
"Now-a-days media report cases of sex
rackets one after another and people are used to
reading such cases as routine news item. She said
people tend to ignore the issue by saying, 'is it
just matter of punishing a single criminal? Isn't
it matter of punishing all such people who
destroy women? She said the judiciary also seems
to be helpless in front of powerful politicians
who have enough money to appoint expert lawyers
or make policemen obey them. Even though there
are many honest policemen who are keen to protect
law and order, political compulsions from higher
officials, make them mere machines to obey
orders. Sugathakumari believes that questions
about accountability in sex rackets cross the
mind of every Keralite who listen to the Ice
Cream Parlour case or the Kiliroor case.
In the seminar there were two
groups - one group argued that there is no use
punishing just a single Kunjalikutty but all
culprits who ruin lives of women should be
penalized. The rival group stressed that corrupt
politicians should be removed from power as they
are misusing the power which they got through
elections. "Elected members have a
responsibility to use the power that they got for
the welfare of people and not to ruin innocent
lives," they argued.
What is reason for the
unprecedented growth of sex rackets in Kerala?
How young girls become part of such rackets. What
should be done to break the progress of such
rackets and stop the ruining of even more lives?
Keralathile Laingika Peedana caseukal- oru
vishakalanam, a publication of Kerala sthreevedi)
gives an insight into the problems facing women
and the reasons and history of sex rackets in
Kerala.
Some facts
about sex racket cases
Sthreevedi Discussion on Sex
Rackets in Kerala
Those listed here are just a
few cases which involved names of prominent
people and attracted media focus. There may be
even more cases of sexual abuse, which have not
yet been made public. Sex racket is one of the
biggest industries in Kerala which involves a
huge flow of money. The physical abuse of young
girls who are not even mature by age is
increasing in Kerala and the number of such
rackets is increasing. Ex-Chief Minister
A.K.Anthony had said during an assembly session
that in the span of 3 years, there were 34 sex
racket cases.
From among the sex racket
cases, which came in front of the public, the
court could pass judgment and punish culprits on
just two cases - Sooryanelli Case and Panthalam
Case and that too following strong protest from
women organizations like Sthreevedi and also
because sincere policemen like IG. C.B. Mathew
investigated the case. But the culprits of both
the cases were later released on bail.
Most of the main culprits
responsible in bringing girls into the network of
such sex rackets have been women, be it Ajitha
Begum, Lata Nair or Sreedevi. So women tend to
play a role in the evolution of such a kind of
racket. Only in rare cases, like that of the
Thoppumpadi case was a male involved in bringing
the girl into the racket. In quite a few cases,
neighbours and relatives were involved in
bringing such girls into these rackets.
The girl's life goes on getting
ruined with each torture she has to go through
physically and mentally. It should also be noted
that the victims of such cases are young and
illiterate girls from economically backward
families. Mostly the girls are of age group under
18. The main reason for this could be that, they
can be easily overpowered and also frightened, so
that they would remain submissive. Even if they
are let to go home, they wouldn't say about this
to their parents. They will be always threatened
that some blue film made with her would be made
public. Many girls in schools and colleges may
easily fall into the trap of such sex rackets and
once they are in it, it would be impossible for
them to get out. Soon they are used by high level
people and she becomes a product in this trade to
be bought and sold.
Usually girls with pretty good
monetary as well as parental security doesn't get
into such dangerous situations, unless by falling
into temptations of jobs or offers of money or
falling in the trap of a lover. In many cases,
the girls may also be drugged while they are
being physically used so that they wouldn't try
to escape. It could be really dangerous as in the
case of kiliroor case, where the girl who wanted
to become a serial actress, fell into the trap of
her own relative who pulled her into a sex
racket. This creates a situation for girls, not
to fully trust the women around them like their
relatives or neighbours.
In most of the sex abuse cases,
no immediate action is taken by the police or the
court or the government to punish the criminals.
Many officials in the police, courts and
government are easily influenced using money,
power and the girls. This weakens the strength of
the case and justice is not meted out to the girl
or to her family who have to suffer all the shame
and pain along with her.
Even when the girls speak about
people who ruined their lives, the real criminals
use their money and power and save themselves
from any kind of punishment. The abused girl has
to repeat her story in front of the police, the
media and the courts that are under the influence
of money and power of politicians and rich
people. By the time, decision is taken on such
cases; the girl may not remain alive. The
decision may be in favour of the criminal and in
some cases, the real criminals are saved from
even being a culprit in front of the public, with
the police helping in destroying evidence at the
initial levels of the case. The life of the girl
would be ruined forever and the real culprits who
ruined the life of the girl would roam freely in
public without any kind of fear and continue to
do the crime they have been committing.
What many of these officials
who support the influential people forget is
that, even their daughters or sisters or
relatives could fall a victim to such sex
rackets. We can find humanitarianism dying a
pathetic death, when such a kind of trade, which
ruins many lives, grows and flourishes.
What you can do
to curb the growth of such sex rackets?
As long as influential people
dominate our society, it would be tough to punish
all criminals who are involved in such cases. The
whole ruling machinery is corrupted by these
influential people and a sudden change cannot be
brought to ensure all criminals are punished. But
the honest police officials, truthful lawyers and
socially aware media people can do a lot to help
change this condition.
The basic unit of the society
is the family and only from a family can any kind
of social modification be started. If a society
has to be changed for the good, it should start
from your own homes. The members of the family
unit should ensure that none of the family
members get involved in such rackets.
Parents should ensure that
their daughters don't fall into such traps. This
is pretty tough among poor people who would be
ambitious to be in a better monetary condition
and also wish to have a bright future for their
daughter (like the Kiliroor case). The ambition
for fame and money leads many girls into these
traps. It may not be necessary that all such
offers of jobs are traps, but before taking up
the offers, it is important that the girl informs
her parents about the job offer and also it is
important on the side of the parents to ensure
that the job offer is not a dangerous trap for
their daughter.
It should also be ensured that
such rackets would not get a chance to develop in
schools or colleges. There should be more strict
management in schools and colleges so that
students wont tend to fall into this kind of
traps.
Women should unite and
communicate their ideas and thus help to create
more awareness about such rackets and only the
unity among women can help in fighting against
such rackets. The students in schools and
colleges should be made aware, that even they
also have a good chance of falling into a racket
and therefore should protect themselves from
falling into such rackets and be more
communicative with their parents. Parents should
also be made aware that, rather than being strict
with their children, they should be more open and
friendly so as to ensure that their children
would come and talk freely to them even if they
fall into any such danger.
The role of the media and the
women's organizations in bringing out such cases
is immense. But all the attempts on the sides of
the media and these women's organizations go
useless, when the police, the court and the
ministry are under the influence of these
influential people who use their money and power
to save themselves from being punished for their
crimes.
If a girl happens to fall into
such a racket and seeks justice, it is important
that she doesn't come under the influence of
monetary promises or threats. In many of the
cases, the fear of some danger and promises of
money to ensure their future life makes them
change their statements, which reduces the
strength of the cases and also the trust of the
common people, the media and even the courts on
them.
In many of the cases,
politicians, police officials and such high level
people are involved. But all politicians or
officials are not bad. This is an important point
to be noted. If a victim of sex racket goes to
the police to register a complaint, it is also
important to ensure that the police officials
before whom she is giving her statement are
honest and not under the influence of political
pressure. The media and women's organizations can
also help her immensely.
It is pretty tough to change
the whole society. What could be done is to
protect our own members from falling into such a
trap. Each family has to ensure this and then
only could there be a prevention of girls falling
into such traps. Just like, a disease like AIDS
can be prevented by precaution, the growth of
these sex rackets could also be prevented if the
parents are more careful to protect their
children from falling into such traps.
Two More Keralite Girls Rescued
from Sex Racket Trap in Dubai
Mafia controlled International Sex Racket
Thrives in Dubai
DUBAI - September 19 2004
Following the dramatic rescue mission from
brothels operating from various villas and flats
in different parts of the city, two more Keralite
girls have managed to escape from the iron fish
of the sex mafia who lure young girls from
different districts in Kerala and trap them into
the multimillion sex racket. According to
sources, two Malayali ladies from Ernakulam and
Trichur who were brought to work as housemaids
here ended up in brothels run by a strong mafia.
A 28 years old lady from Ernakulam and 23 years
old Trichur girl will be repatriated to Kerala
within two days after completing their
formalities. More
Sooryanelli
Case (1996)
Former M P and Minister P J
Kurien had a narrow escape from the case..
Sooryanelli
case has been one of the most controversial woman
abuse cases in the mid 90's. The main victim in
Sooryaenelli case was a ninth standard student,
when she became a victim of sex racket network.
The minor girl was kept under illegal custody for
around 40 days. "In the case, 35 people who
were convicted were punished with severe
imprisonment by the court and 4 people were let
free. Following 32 appeals made by the accused in
the Kerala High Court, against an earlier
judgment of the court, the case hearing resumed
on Nov 17th 2004. The special court punished
Dharmarajan the prime suspect with lifelong
imprisonment. The other acquitted people were
given 10 years imprisonment. Among those who
abused the girl was an ex-minister too, though he
couldn't be acquitted or punished as evidence
against him was cleverly destroyed. Media reports
suggested that P.J.Kuriyan, a Congress Member of
Parliament and Minister was one of the accused in
the case. More
about Rape Victims in Kerala
Sex Racket Victim from Kottayam
in Coma for three months. Undergoing Treatment in
Dubai Hospital
Young Nurse from a place near Kiliroor was
physically assaulted, forced into prostitution
racket
DUBAI -November 1, 2004 Even as
the victim of Thiruvarppu sex scandal victim is
struggling for life in Kerala, another young lady
from Kottayam, who was send to the Gulf to work
as a nurse by the sex racketeers is struggling
for life at a Dubai hospital. KM learns that a 26
years old widow, a Muslim woman, who was send to
Dubai to work as a "nurse" ended up in
the hands of the Gulf sex mafia which has close
links to the Kiliroor sex scandal and the
Kozhikkodu Ice Cream Parlour case. Due to severe
physical assault and forced prostitution, the
young lady has been lying in a state of coma for
the last three months. It is understood that the
sex racket has dumped her in a hospital, claiming
that she sustained serious injuries in an
accident. More
Vithura Case
(1996)
Another sex racket case has
been that of a 16-year-old girl who was lured by
Ajitha Begum, her neighbour. This minor girl too
fell into sex rackets. Around 100 people sexually
abused the girl during the period from October
1995 to July 1996. The case took place 8 years
back and as yet none of the culprits has been
punished. The first accused, Suresh is not yet
caught and the second accused Ajitha Begum
committed suicide. There are 55 more persons
involved in the case who have to be identified.
The case proceedings can be continued only if the
stay submitted by film star Jagathi Sreekumar and
another accused is removed. Other than Jagathi
Sreekumar, the other celebrities who were
involved included Excise Assistant Commissioner,
Ex-D.Y.S.P etc. This sex racket too has some
connection to the film serial sector as is the
case with Kiliroor sex scandal.
Panthalam Case
(1997)
Eight people physically abused
a college girl and attempted to make a blue film.
Four lecturers in the college are among those
accused in the case. The special court passed
judgement to punish them but they were released
on bail and they even gave an appeal at the high
court. N.S.S Management appointed the lecturers
who were accused in the case. More Details
Kothamangalam
(1997)
A case, which took place in the
same year as the Panthalam case, included among
the 138 people accused- a former Union Minister
and P.K. Kunjalikutty, the Minister of Industry
who is accused in the Kozhikkodu Ice Cream
Parlour case. The case was about a 16 year old
girl who was promised a job and was pulled into
the sex racket trap by a neighbourhood youth.
Kozhikkode Ice
Cream Parlour Case (1997)
This sensational case is still
the focus of media attention. The case was
brought to public attention, when a women's
organization 'Anveshi' found out that a sex
racket concentrated in RKS Ice Cream Parlour was
run by a lady named Sreedevi in Kozhikkode.
Anveshi also complained to the former Chief
Minister E.K.Nayanar on Aug 4, 1997. Media
reports suggested that in this sex mafia, I.A.S.,
I.P.S., and political leaders of U.D.F and L.D.F
parties were involved. Following a raid in the
Icecream Parlour, police found out the diary of
Sreedevi, in which phone numbers of many
prominent persons from various places in the
state were recorded. Sreedevi was arrested three
weeks after the raid.
Among the accused, were many
other prominent people like P.K.Kunjalikutty. In
the statement given by the main witness Rajeena
in front of the Kozhikkode Judicial First Class
Magistrate on January 6th 1998, she alleged that
Kunjalikutty had physically abused her. Rajeena
also stated that the convict in the case Sreedevi
introduced her to P.K.Kunjalikutty and
P.R.Rahman. While the enquiry on the case was in
progress, two of the witnesses who were
physically abused - Rajeela and Bindu changed
their statements following threats and pressure
tactics.
In her statements at four
places, Rajeena had said that P.K.Kunjalikutty
physically abused her. But later in the
Kunnamangalam Court, she avoided Kunjalikutty in
her statement given there and because of that
Kunjalikutty was then removed from the list of
the culprits.
After a span of 8 years, this
case is again back into controversy, following
Rajeena's confession in front of the media on 8th
October 2004, that she had changed her statement
avoiding Kunjalikutty's name due to threats and
monetary benefits. Rajeena also said that
Kunjalikutty's brother-in-law (wife's sister's
husband) Rauf was the one who was giving her
money and her confessions are due to their
present attitude in giving money to her. Police
has not yet taken up a case against Kunjalikutty,
even though there was enough evidence against
Kunjalikutty in Rajeena's statement. The case is
still continuing with Rajeena changing her
statements every now and then, perhaps due to
some sort of threat or further monetary promises
to ensure safety of her life and also her kid's
life. Muslim League is continuing to strongly
support their leader and U.D.F is keeping mum on
this case, as they would lose power if they take
action against Kunjalikutty. Muslim League is the
second main constituent of UDF.
Thoppumpadi
Case (2002)
A 17-year-old girl who came for
work fell into the trap of sex racketeers because
of an auto rickshaw driver. This girl was abused
by almost 250 people including a film director
and was also used in a blue film. The police
submitted wrong evidence showing the girl as
mature. The culprits are not yet taken into
custody. The girl's mother had demanded that the
case enquiry should be left to the C.B.I. Like
all other sex scandals, this case too has reached
nowhere. The latest sex racket case, which made
headlines, came out in 2004 - which is the
Kiliroor Case.
Malayalis
arrested for kidnapping Malayali girls from Gulf
airports
Dubai and
Muscat: Giving another sensational dimension to
the growing sex trafficking from Kerala to
various Gulf countries, two Malayali ladies from
Trichur, were kidnapped and illegally kept in
brothels. One of the girls was sold by a Malayali
agent to another brothel just for Omani Rial 300
(Rs.35,000)! More
Dubai Sex
Racket Hundreds of Innocent Girls Trapped More
Cyber Sex
Rampant among Keralites, Non Resident Keralites
Special Report Keralamonitor Full Report
International Sex Racket
has Muscat VIP Links
150 Dance Girls from
India who were coming to Muscat by IC 885 Flight
were caught in Gujarath! More