CPM man among 3 jailed for harassing widow

Three persons,including a local CPM leader,were sentenced on Monday to four years rigorous imprisonment by a fast track court in Kozhikode,which held them guilty of harassing a widow. The three,local CPM branch secretary E C Balan,his wife Narayani and one Chirakkal Mohanan were also fined Rs 10,000 each.

According to the prosecution,Vineetha Kottai,a widow who had returned from Mumbai to her native Pathirippatta,a Communist-dominated village in Kozhikode,had to undergo six years of harassment and boycott from the local party leadership. Vineetha,who taught at a college in Mumbai,had returned to her mothers village along with her two young sons after the death of her husband,a doctor.

The party boycotted Vineetha and her family,accusing them of denying a farm job to Narayani,Balans wife,in her agricultural land. After Vineetha informed the media about her hardships,local CPM activists attacked Vineetha and her neighbour Kelappan,leading to the criminal case.