- By Nidhi Giri
- Mon, 20 Jan 2025 09:11 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kerala Rape: Kerala police have arrested 57 of the 59 people accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old Dalit girl in Pathanamthitta district over a period of five years. The victim had accused 62 individuals of blackmailing and sexually abusing since the age of 13. The abuse was exposed when the victim's teachers informed the District Child Welfare Committee about noticeable changes in her behaviour.
District police chief VG Vinod Kumar said that the last accused to be taken into custody was a 25-year-old man who was arrested from his house on Sunday morning, as reported by news agency PTI.
The girl revealed the scale of abuse during counselling by the committee, which informed the police. A case was registered at the Elavumthitta police station on January 10.
District police chief Kumar said all the listed accused, except two currently abroad, have been arrested through a comprehensive probe. A special investigation team, led by woman IPS officer S Ajitha Beegam, has been investigating the case under his supervision.
Based on the victim's statement, 30 cases have been registered so far at four police stations in the district. The girl also revealed that she was subjected to sexual abuse by five minors.
Investigation revealed that several accused met the victim at a private bus stand in the district. Police said she was then taken to various locations in vehicles and subjected to abuse.
Police said the victim was gang-raped on at least five occasions, including assaults inside a car and at the Pathanamthitta General Hospital in January 2024. Last year, a youth who contacted the girl through Instagram took her inside a rubber plantation in Ranni and raped her along with three others.
The district police chief said the objective is to complete the investigation and submit the charge sheet as soon as possible.
(With Agency Inputs)