HC directs IG to give protection to petitioner

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed Thiruvananthapuram Range IG K Padmakumar to provide adequate protection to the petitioner in the case related to trafficking of women to Sharjah.“The IG can decide on the scale of protection,” a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice J Chelameswar and P R Ramachandra Menon said.The court issued the order on a submission made by the petitioner that she was getting threats from various corners.“Considering the nature of the crime and the background of the case, the petitioner is a principal witness in the case,” the court said.A petition regarding trafficking of women to Sharjah in UAE was filed by Sheeja Azis, a native of Pathanamthitta, who had managed to escape from the clutches of the racket.The IG submitted before the court that the police personnel who showed lethargy in investigating the case had been suspended.