Human rights groups- Indian Social Action Forum, Darshan and eminent activists have condemned the brutal murder of a 39-year-old woman sexual rights activist in Kollam district of Kerala.
Expressing concern over the increasing attacks on the social activists, these groups and individuals have asked all social organisations, individuals to come together and strongly protest such attacks.
Here is the full press statement:
To,
The Home Minister
Government of Kerala
We the following human rights organizations and concerned individuals express our shock and deep concern over the brutal murder of activist Anil Sadanandan alias Maria. She was a warm and friendly activist with full of energy.
Anil was murdered at night on May 9, 2012 at her residence in Thankassery in Kollam district. She was only 39 year old but was deeply connected with the human rights issues of the sexuality minority groups in Kerala, Anil worked at the Harbour Engineering Department of the Kerala State Government and involved with the preparatory work of Queer Pride 2012, Kerala.
Those sexuality minorities braving against the patriarchial-capitalist path have faced different physical attacks in the past from those do not agree with the diversities of sexuality.
But, this time, it has been too brutal – Anil\\\’s stomach was stabbed, neck chopped and chilli powder sprayed.
We would like to bring to your attention and express our anger over the growing tendency of using brute physical violence to deal with all diversities, including sexual.
We are also concerned over the growing nature of `blaming the victim’ game when such a ghastly event takes place. We express our shock over the attempts of the police to question and search the houses of activists instead of searching for the real culprits.
We also condemn all physical attacks on activists and call upon social organizations, activists and people’s movements to come out in a united manner against the politics of physical violence on activists in general.
We condemn this brutal murder of Anil and call for the arrests of the culprits and demand that the Indian State ensures that Article 19 (right to life) is not really respected and all citizens irrespective of their sexuality or anything else are safe.