Palakkad: Anonymous Letters Target Female Educators

Palakkad (Kerala), Aug 25 (PTI) - In an unsettling development from the northern Kerala district of Palakkad, two female heads of educational institutions have reportedly received abusive anonymous letters. The police, informed of this troubling occurrence on Monday, are actively probing the source of these distressing communications.

The letters were received by the senior superintendent of a college and the principal of a private school, both located in Chittoor. One police officer noted, "On August 19, the college official received a letter containing derogatory remarks. The following day, the school principal received a similar letter, which was accompanied by newspaper cuttings about a student and contained abusive comments aimed at both the institution and the student involved."

Upon complaints lodged by the concerned educational institutions, the Chittoor police initiated an investigation on August 21. Cases have been registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) - specifically section 79, which pertains to insulting the modesty of a woman, and section 351(4), addressing criminal intimidation through anonymous communication. Additionally, section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act, concerning causing nuisance via anonymous communications, has also been invoked.

Authorities suspect that a single individual may be behind both letters, raising the possibility of an elderly person from the district being involved. "We suspect an elderly individual as the letter writer. Efforts are ongoing to verify this," added the official.

In a related context, an incident earlier this year, in April 2023, involved the arrest of a retired government employee in Palakkad. This individual had allegedly sent abusive anonymous letters to women journalists, judicial staff, and government workers. Released on bail, his actions bear a striking resemblance to the current case being investigated.

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