Nine-year-old files RTI application over father's abduction

Erode, May 11: A nine-year-old boy has filed a Right to Information Act application over the alleged abduction and eventual return of his father last year.

The application was filed by Ajay Krishnaraj, the son of a woman constable here who had recently filed a PIL in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the Tamil Nadu DGP to form complaints committees to probe into sexual harassment of women personnel in police stations in line with a 1997 Supreme Court order.

Presenting the RTI complaint to the Erode Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mahendran yesterday, Ajay claimed that his father had been allegedly abducted last year and had "returned on his own" after his mother filed a habeas corpus petition in the court.

Ajay demanded in his RTI application for proper records related to his father's abduction and also the action taken against the abductors by the police. He also alleged that instead of searching for his father, the police had been trying to demoralise his mother's integrity and reputation. He sought proper enquiry in the kidnapping case.

Ajay's mother S K Valli had contended in the PIL that she was being subjected to severe sexual harassment by police personnel and officials ever since she was posted at the All Women Police Station Erode, in 2004 and faced severe action due to her refusal to yield.

She alleged that sexual harassment of women personnel in the force was the norm rather than the exception and said she could not complain due to the absence of secure fora, as prescribed by the Supreme Court.

PTI