Kerala woman who bobbitised ‘godman’ let off

Kerala police decided to drop charges against the 23-year-old woman who gashed the genitals of a selfproclaimed godman when he tried to sexually assault her on Friday, as support poured in from various quarters.

Initially, police planned to charge the woman, a final year law student, under sections of self-defence, but dropped the idea when women’s bodies raised their voice, saying this will put more pressure on the victim. Meanwhile, a local court has remanded the accused in judicial custody till June 3. Since he is not fully recovered he will be confined to a cell in Thiruvananthapuram medical college hospital for some more days.

The police have shifted the woman to a safer place. “We haven’t registered a case against her,” said southern range IG Manoj Abraham. The girl’s parents claimed that they were not aware of the sexual assault on the daughter and the godman also took around ₹30 lakh from them under various pretexts. “We will get a clear picture after questioning him and girl’s parents. We have recorded the victim’s statement,” a senior police officer said. Police began a separate investigation to find out antecedents of the godman.

Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan also lauded her, saying it was “a courageous step”, and the government would do every- to support her.

Legal experts said a case against the sexual abuse victim—she told the police the godman Ganeshananda Theerthapada alias Srihari sexually exploited her since class 10— who resorted to action in self-defence, won’t stand much in a court of law.

The state women’s commission has pledged all support to her. Commission member Prameela Devi said the young woman was forced to take such an extreme step.

The woman had attacked the godman around 11.30 pm on Friday when he forced oral sex at knife point at her house here . She snatched the knife and severed his penis and ran out of the house.

She then called the police control room and said she feared he would kill her.

Admitted in serious condition, plastic surgeons and urology specialists did two surgeries on him

A LOCAL COURT HAS REMANDED THE ACCUSED IN JUDICIAL CUSTODY TILL JUNE 3. SINCE HE HAS NOT FULLY RECOVERED, HE WILL BE CONFINED TO A CELL IN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL FOR FEW DAYS