Once once more, beleaguered Chithralekha to stage stir in entrance of Kannur collectorate
6 min read
Express News Service
KANNUR: For E Chithralekha, 47, a Dalit autorickshaw driver of Kattampally, ever since she had proven the center to face as much as the may of the CPM, life has develop into a hell of a journey. She was being ruthlessly chased out of Edatt, her birthplace. Her autorickshaws, the one supply of earnings for the household, have been burnt down twice. When the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy sanctioned 5 cents of land and Rs 5 lakh for her to assemble a home on that land in 2016, the LDF authorities which got here to energy after the autumn of UDF authorities cancelled the order. The case is pending earlier than the High Court, now.
Now, Chithralekha is preparing for the ultimate battle as she has demanded a correct police investigation into the burning down of her autorickshaw for the second time on August 25. Seemingly bored with the lengthy battle, Chithralekha stated that she would begin a 72-hour strike in entrance of Kannur Collectorate on October 3. “I could see people around me shout about social progress and Renaissance. For, around two decades now, I have been hunted down by CPM and struggling to survive. I was not allowed to work at Edatt. They burnt down my autorickshaw in 2005. And now, they have repeated the act now,” she stated.
“There are Dalit organisations and human rights activists. But, all are afraid to offer support to my cause. At present, only a handful of activists are with me, and I know well that we are not good enough to put up even a decent resistance against the might of the party. But, this is my life. I have the right to live in this land,” she stated.
Everything began when she purchased an autorickshaw in 2004. “I had to face caste discrimination as fellow autorickshaw drivers of CITU union showered abuses continuously. As I resisted, they started using force. They tried everything they could to make my life difficult as an auto driver by throwing up hurdles everywhere I went. Then, one day, they burnt down my autorickshaw,” she stated.
Demanding justice and the proper to reside, she had waged protests in opposition to the CPM. In 2013, she performed a 10-day strike, which was wound up because the district collector gave an assurance to her that she could be allowed to work and reside with none risk from exterior. “But, that promise was not kept,” she stated. Again, she launched one other strike, this time for 122 days demanding safety from the administration.
It was following this agitation that Chithralekha was given 5 cents of land and Rs 5 lakh as monetary help to construct a home at Kattampally. “But, the papers didn’t move out of Kannur collectorate, due to the influence of the CPM. I had to conduct another strike of 47 days in front of the secretariat in 2016 to get the papers to the office there,” Chithralekha stated.
But, the LDF authorities which got here to energy in 2016, cancelled the order of the Oommen Chandy authorities. “The case is going on and pending before the High Court,” she stated. Even at Kattampally, the silent ostracisation imposed by CPM continues in Kattampally too. “I know, how helpless I am before the organised strength of the party. But, this is my life, and I will fight so that my family would be able to survive,” she stated.
It was on August 25 this yr that her autorickshaw parked in entrance of her home was burnt down once more. Though a case was registered at Valapattanam police station, the police haven’t been in a position to arrest the attackers, she stated. “I had said that I could identify the person who ran away from the spot along with three other persons. But, the police have not taken any steps to nab them,” she stated.
“The investigation is on. Though Chithralekha had said that she had seen a person, we cannot get any evidence against the person to get him connected to the incident,” stated M T Jacob, SHO, Valapatanam police station.
“The autorickshaw was the only source of income for our family. Now, we are going through a very difficult phase as life has become very tough. Police must act and arrest the culprit. Either kill me or let me live,” Chithralekha stated. She has already given complaints to President Draupadi Murmu, Governor Arif Muhammad Khan, National SC Commission and National Human Rights Commission.
KANNUR: For E Chithralekha, 47, a Dalit autorickshaw driver of Kattampally, ever since she had proven the center to face as much as the may of the CPM, life has develop into a hell of a journey. She was being ruthlessly chased out of Edatt, her birthplace. Her autorickshaws, the one supply of earnings for the household, have been burnt down twice. When the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy sanctioned 5 cents of land and Rs 5 lakh for her to assemble a home on that land in 2016, the LDF authorities which got here to energy after the autumn of UDF authorities cancelled the order. The case is pending earlier than the High Court, now.
Now, Chithralekha is preparing for the ultimate battle as she has demanded a correct police investigation into the burning down of her autorickshaw for the second time on August 25. Seemingly bored with the lengthy battle, Chithralekha stated that she would begin a 72-hour strike in entrance of Kannur Collectorate on October 3. “I could see people around me shout about social progress and Renaissance. For, around two decades now, I have been hunted down by CPM and struggling to survive. I was not allowed to work at Edatt. They burnt down my autorickshaw in 2005. And now, they have repeated the act now,” she stated.
“There are Dalit organisations and human rights activists. But, all are afraid to offer support to my cause. At present, only a handful of activists are with me, and I know well that we are not good enough to put up even a decent resistance against the might of the party. But, this is my life. I have the right to live in this land,” she stated.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );
Everything began when she purchased an autorickshaw in 2004. “I had to face caste discrimination as fellow autorickshaw drivers of CITU union showered abuses continuously. As I resisted, they started using force. They tried everything they could to make my life difficult as an auto driver by throwing up hurdles everywhere I went. Then, one day, they burnt down my autorickshaw,” she stated.
Demanding justice and the proper to reside, she had waged protests in opposition to the CPM. In 2013, she performed a 10-day strike, which was wound up because the district collector gave an assurance to her that she could be allowed to work and reside with none risk from exterior. “But, that promise was not kept,” she stated. Again, she launched one other strike, this time for 122 days demanding safety from the administration.
It was following this agitation that Chithralekha was given 5 cents of land and Rs 5 lakh as monetary help to construct a home at Kattampally. “But, the papers didn’t move out of Kannur collectorate, due to the influence of the CPM. I had to conduct another strike of 47 days in front of the secretariat in 2016 to get the papers to the office there,” Chithralekha stated.
But, the LDF authorities which got here to energy in 2016, cancelled the order of the Oommen Chandy authorities. “The case is going on and pending before the High Court,” she stated. Even at Kattampally, the silent ostracisation imposed by CPM continues in Kattampally too. “I know, how helpless I am before the organised strength of the party. But, this is my life, and I will fight so that my family would be able to survive,” she stated.
It was on August 25 this yr that her autorickshaw parked in entrance of her home was burnt down once more. Though a case was registered at Valapattanam police station, the police haven’t been in a position to arrest the attackers, she stated. “I had said that I could identify the person who ran away from the spot along with three other persons. But, the police have not taken any steps to nab them,” she stated.
“The investigation is on. Though Chithralekha had said that she had seen a person, we cannot get any evidence against the person to get him connected to the incident,” stated M T Jacob, SHO, Valapatanam police station.
“The autorickshaw was the only source of income for our family. Now, we are going through a very difficult phase as life has become very tough. Police must act and arrest the culprit. Either kill me or let me live,” Chithralekha stated. She has already given complaints to President Draupadi Murmu, Governor Arif Muhammad Khan, National SC Commission and National Human Rights Commission.
