If there are still people who believe that the number of men who assault their wives is decreasing in the state, they are mistaken.
A 30-year-old woman who turned up at the State Women’s Commission adalat held here on Tuesday had a tragic story to tell. The woman, a mother of two, had approached the Commission with a complaint against her husband, who used to assault her from the very day of their wedding. She has no place to go as her father does not allow her to stay at his house. The woman is now living with her daughter and ekes out a living by rubber-tapping. The worse and sad part is that her son, staying with her husband, is also subjected to physical assault by the latter and he also has started showing symptoms of cruelty now.
Another woman came to the adalat with shocking revelations about her husband. The man, a womaniser, assaults the woman by compelling her to behave in bed like the other women with whom he has illicit relations.
A total of 200 cases were considered in the adalat. Among them, 82 cases were settled, 94 postponed for the next adalat and 24 cases were referred for further investigation.
“Increase in the number of domestic violence instances is shameful for a state like Kerala. Only a part of such incidents come to light, while the women themselves hide the cruelty meted out to them,’’ said Commission Chairperson K C Rosakutty.
Apart from the Chairperson, Commission director Jacob Job and Circle Inspector R Jose, among others, heard the cases.