Editorial Team Dalit Penkoottam
The authorities have not yet been able to apprehend the culprits responsible for the brutal murder and rape of the Dalit woman named Jisha. Even as Kerala is in turmoil over this issue, that the culprits are roaming scot free indicates a complete break-down of the law and order machinery. Jisha was one of the thousands of young women in Kerala who live by the canals, roadside, or wasteland in one-room houses on half or one cent of land. The government could not give her justice. From the start, all attempts were to portray this gruesome murder as suicide, and to wipe clean all evidence. Her post-mortem examination was conducted without the presence of revenue officials, her body was cremated quickly, and false rumours were circulated that her mother was mentally ill, and that there was constant arguments and fights in the household. We strongly demand that the government find Jisha’s murderer(s) and to take note of what can only be seen as a conspiracy to destroy evidence, and to suspend the government officials who indulged in these.
On behalf of Dalit Penkoottam
- Sathy Angamaly
- Dhanya Raman
- Dhanya M D
- Sunitha Othara
- Chinju Ashwathy
- Rija Babu
- Usha Naduvattam
- Sandhya Prasad
(This statement first appeared on 06 May 2016 in Utharakalam)
