COIMBATORE: The Karamadai police in Coimbatore district registered a case based on the complaint of a woman functionary of TVK alleging harassment, caste-based abuse, intimidation and character assassination by a party union secretary and two others.Police registered a case against union secretary Karuppusamy, functionary Sabitha and her husband, Pandi, under sections 296(b), 75 and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.In her complaint, A Sowmiya, 29, of Seeliyur Kalampalayam stated that a dispute began after an emergency meeting convened by the union secretary a few months ago, which was also attended by a local MLA. Tensions escalated during a Diwali welfare programme organised for sanitation workers, when residents questioned certain alleged irregularities.Sowmiya alleged that she had been removed from her panchayat secretary post after she had refused to comply with certain directions. She accused the trio of abusing her using caste-based slurs, making allegations about her character in public and threatening her family and livelihood.Sowmiya alleged that she had been followed while returning home at night and that her vehicle was intercepted by some people associated with the accused, who threatened and intimidated her. She cited WhatsApp conversations and other digital communications as evidence of the alleged harassment.
