Suryanelli: Politics behind ban on victim's entry to church?

Thiruvananthapuram, March 7: Once again biases against

victim have come into the forefront. Media reports say a catholic

in Kerala has barred

gang-rape victim and her family from entering its premises and attending any of its ceremonies.

Since high profile personalities of the state are being named in the case, involvement of political pressure on the church's decision cannot be ruled out.

Reports says, St Francis Xavier Church at Sachivothamapuram near Kurichy in Kottayam district is said to have issued the directive two weeks ago. The church was established in 1906.

In 1996, a group of around 40 men raped a 16-year-old school-going girl for 40 days. The victim, who is now 33 years of age, says that Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson PJ Kurien was also involved in raping her. The victim has named Kurien as one of the accused in the horrific incident.

Recently, the victim lodged a police complaint and a petition before a local magistrate court for probe against Kurien for raping her.

But, the court dismissed the women's plea for investigation against Kurien.

Earlier, Dharmarajan, one of the main accused in the case had stated in a TV interview that Kurien went to a guest house at Kumily in his car and that the girl was raped there.

Moreover, the mother of the Suryanelli gangrape victim in Kerala had written an emotional letter to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to ensure that Kurien does not chair the Rajya Sabha when the Bill on sexual violence against women comes up in Parliament.

OneIndia News