PALAKKAD:

, which is fighting to retain both Palakkad and Alathur

constituencies in the district, faced an unexpected trouble on Wednesday when a 22-year-old

filed a police complaint that she was sexually abused by a youth at the party’s

office.

police registered a case against the youth.

Police also filed a non-bailable case against the complainant for abandoning her newborn immediately after delivery on March 16. The infant was found abandoned at Nagaripuram within Mannur grama panchayat limits. Both mother and the infant were admitted to a private hospital at Mankara and hence police were unable to get a complete statement from her. They also questioned the 24-year-old youth and let him go. They refused to name him saying that they cannot do so without recording the woman’s statement.

Though CPM denied that both were not party members, the woman and her family are party sympathisers. Also, there are reports that she had contested elections for SFI during her college days.

A few months ago, Shoranur MLA PK Sasi was suspended from the primary membership of the party for six months after a woman filed a sexual harassment complaint. She said that Sasi misbehaved with her several times and communicated sexual intent through phone. The party’s inquiry committee had found him guilty.

Police said the woman complained that the youth promised to marry her and sexually abused her after meeting her at the party office. They had met to discuss issues related to bringing out a magazine. Police added that he used to visit her at her home. The incident took place in June 2018 when she and her family were living in a rented house near the CPM area committee office.

Meanwhile, CPM Cherpulassery area committee secretary KB Subash said that the party came to know about the incident after the woman filed a police complaint. “There is no chance of such an incident taking place inside the party office as it is always busy with party members moving in and out frequently,” he said, adding that this was an attempt to defame the party on the eve of Lok Sabha election.

“The complainant or the accused are not party members. The woman and her family are party sympathizers. We have reasons to suspect that this is an attempt to tarnish the party’s reputation. So, we want an inquiry to bring out the truth immediately,” he said.

Meanwhile Palakkad MP MB Rajesh, who is seeking re-election, also demanded an investigation. He added that such complaints surface during elections.