KOCHI: “ This incident is a clear indicator to the fact that no woman is safe irrespective of her age, dress, sexual appeal or physical condition even while sleeping in her own home,” said J Prameela Devi, member Kerala Women's commission after visiting the 90 year old widow from Kadakkal in the eastern part of Kollam district who had to undergo a sexual assault on the night when the state celebrated its national festival,Onam.
According to the victim, a 60 year old neighbor who intruded into her house in an inebriated state at around 10 pm on September 14 had attacked her sexually.
“ It nails all arguments such as the dressing or the physical appeal of women prompts men to attack her sexually. Remember, there were voices some quarters which asked what was she doing in a public place at night , when Nirbhaya was brutally raped and murdered in New Delhi. Apart from her old age, this grandma was a cancer patient too ,” she added.
According to the neighbors of the childless elderly lady, she is having an amicable relation with all of them. She was living alone in the old house situated in 52 cents of land, originally belong to her. The land which was pledged at a bank for the sake of a relative was was placed for an auction following the non payment. Then it was bought by another relative who allowed her to live there.
“ A lady in the neighborhood had heard some voice in the particular night. However, she too was afraid to go out of the house,” said the member who is in charge of the district.
KWC chairperson KC Rosakkutty said assault of woman of this age was unheard of.
“ KWC took a case suomoto for the seriousness of the issue. It is very evident that there was no attempt for a robbery and her words clearly tells of a sexual assault. So Prameela Devi paid a visit to her house. Our investigating wing will also go there as part of their probe tomorrow,” she said.
Prameela Devi praised the hapless women for her unusual courage as victim of sexual assault. “After talking to her I am convinced that she is mentally stable. She said I was crushed by his weight, if not more. She was weeping the previous day while narrating the harrowing experience to her neighbor."
"Though sad, she managed to speak up boldly unlike many of the girls from the present generation who would not be in a position to face the society after incidents with lesser gravity than this. May be her life as a solitary woman after the death of her husband, ” Prameela commented on the mettle of the women from bygone era.