Women workers under SEWA hold a protest march to SPC’s office demanding action against police officers who detained a Dalit woman worker by falsely accusing her of theft in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Domestic workers under the banner of the SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association) Union took out a march to the office of the State Police Chief demanding immediate action against police officers and the employer of Bindu, a Dalit domestic worker who was illegally detained on a false charge of stealing a gold necklace from her employer’s house.

Activists Mercy Alexander of Sakhi, Vinitha Vijayan, Sreeja Neyyattinkara, SEWA Union president Ramani B. and secretary Sonia George, and Seeta Dasan, also of SEWA, led the march.

Inaugurating a dharna later, Ms. Alexander said the police action at the instance of Ms. Bindu’s employer was shameful to an enlightened society that Kerala was. They sought against Ms. Bindu’s employer, dismissal from service of Peroorkada sub inspector Prasad, and compensation for loss of job and dignity.

The SEWA Union warned of strong protests if the Home department did not take steps to get justice for Ms. Bindu.