In Kerala, a Congress leader, OM George, from Wayanad has been booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old tribal girl for nearly two years. He is the former president of Sultan Bathery panchayat and a member of the District Congress Committee. The police of Sultan Bathery has slapped the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) against OM George. According to various media reports, the accused is absconding.
The Congress has suspended him from the party. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Mullappally Ramachandran said, “OM George has been suspended from the party for inquiry into the case. If he is found guilty, he will be dismissed from the party. The block committee has been directed to inquire on the matter and submit a report immediately. Further action will be taken against him as per the report. Congress will not support any culprits.”
According to The Hindu report, the sexual assault case came to light when the minor, attempted suicide last week. Following this, the parents of the minor approached to the police and narrated them about the entire ordeal that their daughter has suffered. The victim has told the police that she decided to commit suicide in order to put an end to a vicious circle of abuse and blackmail. The parents of the victim were servants at the house of the accused, and the girl used to go there in order to provide helping hand to her parents.
According to Times Now report, the police have taken the statements of the victim and her family and it is also investigating the content of the minor’s mobile phone which could provide important information regarding the case. It has been reported that the Congress leader has also been accused of trying to “settle” the case with the police.
This is not the first incident where charges of sexual assault have been leveled against a Congress leader.
In July last year, a female NSUI member from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh had accused the then NSUI national president Fairoz Khan of sexually exploiting her. The victim alleged that she attended NSUI national convention held in Bengaluru, Karnataka in June where Fairoz Khan had sexually exploited her.
In July 2017, Congress MLA from Kerala M. Vincent was arrested for sexual assault and stalking a 51-year-old woman.
Earlier in 2013, a Congress leader from Assam, Bikram Singh Brahma, was arrested for allegedly raping a married woman. According to a police official, Mr. Brahma “maintained friendly relations” with the woman he allegedly raped and had even promised her a high post in the Congress party.
Also read: The Congress Party and its long list of sex scandals