A Sri Lankan refugee woman has filed a petition in the Madurai bench of the Madras high court alleging that the Q Branch police are harassing her and demanding a bribe from her to run a canteen.
In her petition, T Udhayakala, 35, said she and four children are staying in Mandapam refugee camp. Her husband, Thayapararajah, has been in the special camp in Mandapam. She had been running a small canteen in the camp.
A Q Branch inspector made frequent visits to the canteen and demanded a bribe from her. When she refused to give it, the inspector started threatening her saying that she would be booked in a false case and her entire family would be kept under strict surveillance. Besides, the inspector had tortured her asking free food and other needs. The inspector had allegedly told her that she would not get any help from the special deputy collector of the camp.
The woman, who was not ready to bear the inspector’s harassment, closed the canteen. This affected her livelihood.
She lodged a complaint before the special deputy collector and Q Branch police on September 14 last. But, no concrete action had been taken. The woman said she had taken the issue to the special deputy collector in Mandapam refugee camp three months ago. However, there was no action.
This forced her to approach the court seeking a direction to the police not to harass her and her family.
The court issued notice to the special deputy collector and the Q Branch police inspector of Ramanathapuram.
-Times of India
-Agencies
