Kerala dalit social activist Bindu Ammini attacked, culprit arrested

Bindu Ammini came to prominence when she tried to enter Sabarimala temple after the 2019 court verdict allowing women entry into the temple. She has been the victim of multiple attacks since then.

Social activist Bindu Ammini was attacked by a man in Kozhikode on Thursday, January 6. She was assaulted by an unknown man, and the entire assault was caught on camera by onlookers. Bindu has now filed a case and the culprit has been identified.

Bindu’s name came to prominence when she tried to enter Sabarimala as part of women’s groups following the 2019 court verdict allowing women entry into the temple. Since then, she has been attacked several times in public.

“I have been attacked over ten times. The major attack was in front of the Commissioner’s office. In December last year, even a murder attempt happened. In some incidents, I have filed cases to no avail. I already have police protection as per a Supreme Court order. Kanaka Durga (another activist who took part in the Sabarimala women’s entry protests) also has protection,” she said.

“Sometimes, Kerala police only provide protection to Kanaka Durga and not me because of my Dalit identity. I plan to take asylum in some other country,” said Bindu Ammini, who was shaken by the recent incident.

CULPRIT ARRESTED

The assailant has been identified as Mohandas, a fisherman from Beypore in Kerala’s Kozhikode district. According to police, Mohandas also sustained injuries during the scuffle.

He was on his way to surrender at the police station when he was arrested. He had assaulted Bindu under the influence of alcohol in Kozhikode.

“Sangh Parivar gave instructions to attack me in general. The police are safeguarding the assailants. The man who attacked me has only been charged with bailable offences. The Sabarimala incident left me a target. So many people tried to enter the temple. They are now targeting only me because of my dalit identity,” added Bindu Ammini.

GOVERNMENT IS WITH BINDU AMMINI: MINISTER R BINDU

Higher education minister R Bindu in a social media post said that the attack on Bindu Ammini will not be condoned.

“Belief or difference of opinion is not the reason behind the attack. It’s the urge to hurt others and the fascist mentality of ending what one does not like. Those who supported this in public are also responsible for the acts by such intolerant people. The government will not show any kindness to a person who thinks they can do something so atrocious and get away with it,” said the minister.

“Hindu fundamentalists are attacking Bindu Ammini continuously. This is to be resisted,” minister R Bindu told India Today.

“They think in a very constrictive manner. Most of them are male chauvinists. In this case, the police and the government are committed to protecting women. This will be addressed immediately. This is the first time the incident has come to my attention,” she said.

She further said that there is no laxity on the part of the police. “They were also unaware of the extent of the issue,” said the minister.

NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE: BJP

Meanwhile, the BJP took a curious stand. BJP general secretary George Kurian said that he was not aware of the incident and that he had not seen any reports in newspapers or TV channels.

“It’s probably only there in social media. She is creating something all the time. Everytime someone questions her she says they are RSS or Sangh Parivar. She accuses RSS pointlessly and wants to be in news all the time. In Kerala society we cannot accept such behaviour,” he said.

Courtesy : India Today

Note: This news piece was originally published in indiatoday.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights objectives.