Malappuram: The Kerala Police is trying to track down a councillor of Valanchery municipality after he was accused of molesting a girl here. It is said the accused, Shamsuddin Nadakkavil, has fled the country as the crime came to light. He is reportedly close to Kerala Minister K T Jaleel, fuelling allegations that political powers are likely trying to rescue him.
Shamsuddin is a CPM-backed Independent member of the local self-government body. He runs charcoal business in Dubai. He was recently accused of sexually abusing an underage girl at various locations and was slapped with the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
However, he is suspected to have left for Vietnam before the police could question him. He is then believed to have moved to Malaysia before reaching Indonesia.
Though the police have begun procedures to issue a lookout notice against him, there is little clarity on how the accused could be arrested when he seems to be moving from one country to another.
Lookout notice will come into effect only if he were to enter any of the airports in India. He is said to have friends even in Thailand and the cops are trying to track him down.
Political link
Minister Jaleel said the case proceedings would not be affected due to his reported friendship with the accused.
"The friendship between us does not matter in such a case. Even if my own son is involved in a crime, he should be punished. There should not be any consideration from the part of the police or government" he stated.
"Several people, including Muslim League workers, are spreading rumours. If you want to know the truth, check with the police station," the minister told reporters.
Police laxity?
The accused is an active Left worker in the Thavanoor and Valanchery assembly constituencies in Malappuram district. Allegations are rife that the Valanchery Police did not promptly act on the complaint.
A case was registered after new police officers were appointed at the station during their reshuffle ahead of the polls and after the Childline intervened.
The victim had also approached Malappuram Collector Amit Meena, seeking a high-level probe into the case due to the political links of the accused.
District police chief Pratheesh Kumar then assigned Tirur DySP T Biju Bhaskar to probe the case.
