KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday asked the state government to inform what action it has taken to ensure the mental wellbeing of the child who subjected to ‘public trial’ by the Pink Police wing of Kerala Police.
Justice Devan Ramachandran asked the government to inform the steps taken while considering a petition (WP-C No. 25850/2021) filed by an 8-year-old girl. In the plea filed through advocate AK Preetha, the child is seeking proper disciplinary action against Pink Police officer CP Rejitha and a compensation of Rs50 lakhs.
During Monday, state police chief Anil Kant tried to claim in a report that the girl began crying when a crowd gathered to ridicule the officer and not when the officer approached the girl and her father. However, the court did not agree and said it is evident from the video recording that it was when the officer approached the girl that she began crying. “This is where the coverup starts. Khaki will always go in favour of the khaki. The officer was drunk on power at the moment,” the court said.
Responding to the police chief’s submission that the Pink Police officer is undergoing behavioural training, the court asked whether it is to remind her to behave like a human being. The court said the police chief’s report should have been more empathetic and said the court will ensure that the child will get justice.
The girl was waiting at Moonnumukku near Attingal along with her father to see giant machinery of ISRO being transported by road when the police officer who was in the Pink Police patrol car parked nearby accused her of stealing a mobile phone from the car. The officer tried to disrobe her and her father in the guise of a search and threatened to take them to the police station for a search, it is alleged. While putting them on ‘public trial’, the officer also insulted and intimidated them, the plea said while pointing out that a police official deputed to aid women and children acted in such a highhanded manner.
