CHENNAI: Harassed by women, a group of husbands and other men, members of the Association for protection of Men Tamilnadu (AFPM) demanded that the Domestic Violence Act be repealed by staging a protest on the day of World Men’s Day, here on Thursday.

The men claimed that out of total number of cases filed under the DV Act against men, 80 percent of men face false cases. “It is only because of the misguidance of many women SHGs that even small issues at home are exaggerated and are taken to the police station,” said Arulthumilan, association president.

The group’s main worry was that 44 laws protected women and lamented that no law has been constituted to protect men.

Mani Saravanan, an NRI from the US, who married a woman from Chengalpet in 1992 was leading a happy life, when in 2006, his wife suddenly left demanding that all properties be registered in her name. Mani’s wife later filed a case under the Domestic Violence Act, filed for divorce and demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakhs. “I have two grown up daughters. I came to India with a dream of leading a happy life only because marriage was valued more much here than in the US. But, now it’s all shattered,” Mani who is a yoga teacher said.

Arul David from Tiruchy was one among such who lost his job abroad because is wife complained to the police. “My wife left me, when I was called for an interview abroad. We have never had any big fights except those small problems which every couple face. Still she refused to live with me despite counselling from the police. Now, I am jobless and my wife is demanding Rs 7 lakhs as compensation,” Arul David, who was in the city for the protest, said.

While most men booked under the DV Act have been acquitted, they had all faced some kind of harassment from women police.

Patrick M Francis, a bank employee, claims that he and his parents faced harassment from women police.