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Women welcome Suryanelli sex scandal verdict

D Jose in Trivandrum

The heavy punishment handed out to 35 accused in the sensational Suryanelli sex scandal by a special court on Wednesday has boosted the morale of women activists in Kerala.

K Ajitha, president of Anweshi, a women's organisation which uncovered the Kozhikode sex scandal, has termed the judgement a victory for women.

"We would have been much happier if former Union minister, P J Kurien, one of the accused in the case, was brought to the book too," she told rediff.com.

The sex scandal, which shook the state, involved a Class VIII student, who was raped repeatedly by several people in different parts of the state.

Many women activists said that the special court judge had done a commendable job by holding marathon sessions for more than six months, bringing 35 of the 39 accused to the book.

The judge slapped jail terms and fines on all the 35 convicted in the case. The total fine amounting Rs 435,000 and will go to the victim.

The prime accused -- Idukki Konnathadi Puthuchirayil Raju and Chirakkadavu Thekkethukavala Kottadikunnel Usha - have both been sentenced to 13 years' of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 15,000 each. The rest have been given jail terms ranging from 4 years to 13 years.

Ajitha said Anweshi would now demand trial of all sex scam cases, including the Kozhikode and Vithura scandals, in special courts.

The Vithura sex scandal is similar to the Suryanelli case. It involves a minor who was taken around Kerala and Tamil Nadu and raped repeatedly.

"The Vithura case is over six years old now. There are some very powerful people involved in the case...the delay suits them," Ajitha said.

A prominent name figuring in the Vithura case is that of noted Malayam comedian Jagati Sreekumar.

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