Kottayam is currently gripped by a rapidly escalating political controversy following the alleged suicide of Ananthu Aji, a worker affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from Elikkulam. This tragic event has become a focal point, especially as local body elections draw near.
The situation intensified after a video, recorded by Ananthu himself, emerged on his social media platforms, reiterating severe allegations of sexual abuse he purportedly suffered at various RSS camps. In response, members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Youth Congress organized protest marches in Ponkunnam on Thursday, vociferously demanding the immediate arrest of individuals implicated in the video.
Shop Vandalized Amidst Protests
Amidst the escalating demonstrations, DYFI activists resorted to vandalism, attacking a shop in Kappad, near Kanjirappally. This establishment belongs to a man who stands accused in connection with Ananthu Aji’s death. Law enforcement quickly intervened, dispatching a police team to the scene to disperse the protestors and restore order.
Separately, Nattakom Suresh, president of the District Congress Committee, spearheaded a protest march by the Youth Congress towards the Deputy Superintendent of Police’s office in Kanjirappally. During his address, Mr. Suresh critically accused the police of inaction and reluctance in pursuing the case vigorously. Following this, Youth Congress members staged a sit-in on the road, which police subsequently broke up.
The core of this intensifying controversy lies in the video, which Ananthu, aged 26, recorded just days prior to his passing. Posted on his Instagram account on Wednesday, the video features him detailing his deeply distressing experiences of alleged sexual abuse during his time at various RSS camps. He tragically stated that these traumatic events had inflicted profound mental distress upon him for years.
For its part, the RSS has also publicly called for a thorough and impartial investigation into the entire incident, acknowledging the gravity of the allegations.