THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Fast Track (Pocso) judge here on Thursday ordered to provide medical aid to a mentally unstable woman ahead of the commencement of trial of her alleged sexual abuser. Judge R Jayakrishnan issued this directive after he noticed that the survivor lacked a sound mind to give her statements.
The survivor, a person with learning disabilities, who is currently aged 22, had allegedly faced sexual abuse from two of her neighbours in the year 2013 when she was only 15. She was studying in class VI when she faced the abuse. Her mother too is suffering from the same mental condition. Poojapura police registered a case and arrested the accused after the girl’s teachers and classmates noticed the abuse marks on her face and neck and enquired about it.
The trial of the accused was scheduled to commence on Thursday. Soon after the session started, the judge noticed that the woman was giving incoherent statements. The judge then asked her about her favourite things in life and her ambitions to make her relax. She told the judge that she loved to have Maggi noodles and wished to learn driving and karate. When asked why karate, she replied that she wanted to beat up the men who violated her.
Special public prosecutor R S Vijay Mohan then stated that the survivor was in need of psychiatric treatment, but her family was in no condition to provide her treatment. Her condition grew worse following the sexual abuse. She and her mother are under the care of her grandmother, who is aged 90.
The judge directed the psychiatry wing authorities at Medical College Hospital to provide her treatment and also directed the police to provide them needed assistance.
