Kochi: A tattoo artist has been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a young woman who came to him for a tattoo. PS Sujeesh of Infected Tattoo Studio in Cheranalloor reached Cheranalloor around 10 pm last night and surrendered before the police. After receiving the complaint of 6 young women, the police had registered 6 cases against the accused on charges including rape. Four police teams from Palarivattom, Elamakkara and Cheranalloor were following the accused.
It is learned that the accused was absconding in a house in Perumbavoor. Sujeesh’s arrest will be recorded today and he will be produced in court. Four cases were registered against the accused at Palarivattom station on Friday night and two at Cheranalloor station yesterday. Five women had lodged complaints directly and one had lodged an email.
Police raided Sujeesh’s tattoo studio, which had been closed for days. Hard disks, computers and other digital evidence containing CCTV footage were seized. According to the girls, she was exploited while getting a tattoo in a closed room here. In the aftermath of the incident, the police continued their search and information collection at other tattoo studios in Kochi yesterday. Information on employers and employees is being collected.
City Police Commissioner CH Nagaraju said they were also looking into whether women from other studios had had similar experiences. State Women’s Commission chairperson P Sathi Devi said that legal aid will be given to women. She said the commission would try to change the situation where women are reluctant to complain about sexual harassment.
Meanwhile, more and more young women came out with revelations yesterday about the makeup artist in Vyttila who was similarly accused of sexual harassment. Police have launched an investigation. It is reported that the makeup artist has left the country.
English Summary: Tattoo artist Sujeesh arrested in rape case