Kerala: Woman raises rape allegations against health official

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hours after the alleged rape of a Covid-19 patient in Pandalam was reported, another woman has raised rape allegations against a health official in Thiruvananthapuram. The complainant is a 48-year-old woman, residing at Kulathupuzha in the rural parts of the district. Her allegations are against a health inspector residing at Bharathannoor under Pangode police station limits. He reportedly is in charge of Kulathupuzha limits. A case in this regard was registered at Vellarada police station after they received her complaint. The case will soon be transferred to Pangode police. The police have also taken the health official into custody for questioning.
Police sources said that as per her complaint, the alleged rape took place on September 3 at the residence of the health official. She had recently returned from Malappuram district and was directed by the health department to go under quarantine. Her alleged rapist was in charge of her area. After completing the quarantine period, she contacted the official on phone seeking quarantine completion certificate and he asked her to meet him at his residence. When she reached his residence, there was no one else at home and he overpowered her and raped her, the woman said in her complaint.
After this, she had been staying at a friend’s residence at Vellarada. On Sunday evening she contacted Kulathupuzha station house officer on phone and told him about her complaint. Since she was at Vellarada, the Inspector directed her to turn up before the Vellarada station house officer and lodge a written statement.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)