Kerala: Teen Alleges Sexual Abuse By Over 60 People; 6 Arrested Photo: | Getty Kerala: Teen Alleges Sexual Abuse By Over 60 People; 6 Arrested Photo: | Getty

In a shocking revelation, an 18-year-old Dalit girl from Kerala has about being sexually abused for over five years by several individuals in Pathanamthitta district. The police suspects involvement of at least 60 people in this case and have been able to take nine of them to custody while 15 persons have been held in connection with the case so far.

The arrests were made based on the statement given by the girl who is an athlete and has allegedly been raped at various locations since she was 16. The police said that they received evidence indicating that the girl was exploited by individuals including her coaches, fellow athletes, and classmates.

What Did The Victim Say In Her Police Statement?

As per the statement of the girl, she had used her father's mobile phone to communicate with the suspects and 40 persons have been identified by verifying the phone details and the information from the diary in her possession, police sources said.

Over 60 people are suspected to be involved in the case and FIRs have been filed in various police stations in Pathanamthitta, they added. The arrest of those in custody will be recorded by Saturday evening, they added.

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A top police official has told PTI that the timeline of the incidents indicate that she was a minor and thus, sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) along with Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act would be invoked against the accused.

pjx slot How Did This Come To Light? Steps Taken So Far

The issue came to light during counselling conducted byvolunteers of the Kerala Mahila Samakhya Society met the girl, a district-level athlete, during a random field visit. The victim's teachers at an educational institution also informed the panel about noticeable changes in her behaviour.

When she wanted to share her bitter experiences in recent years. The volunteers informed the district Child Welfare Committee.

The committee subsequently notified the police, who initiated an investigation.

A special investigation team headed by Pathanamthitta DySP has been constituted to carry out the inquiry. A detailed investigation is underway, a top police officer said.

A total of five FIRs have been registered in connection with the rape incident allegedly involving several people and more FIRs will be filed and more arrests will take place, police said.

Statement of Police

According to Pathanamthitta Superintendent of Police V G Vinod Kumar, the cases have been registered in two police stations. "In one case we arrested five people and a lone accused in another case. More cases will be registered after verifying details. A deputy superintendent of police is heading the probe," he stated, as per the reports. 

Advocate N Rajeev, who heads the Pathanamthitta CWC, said the matter came up before the committee 15 days ago. “I told the girl to report before the committee along with her mother. She was given counseling, and she opened up before a psychologist, narrating the sexual abuse she has been facing since the age of 13, as quoted by the Indian Express.

“She hadn’t shared anything with the mother. Since the girl is a district-level athlete, she has attended various sports camps over the years. That situation might have facilitated this series of sexual abuse,” he added.

“She used the mobile phone of her father, an alcoholic. Most of the perpetrators were identified from the list of contacts in the mobile phone. Many numbers were found saved in it,” Rajeev stated.

“Psychologists with the Nirbhaya scheme spoke to her to ascertain the credibility of her claims. They also examined her father’s mobile phone to find out the names of the alleged abusers. Once the probe progressesfc188, the chances of involvement of more people cannot be ruled out,” he said, adding, “The girl has been shifted to a shelter under the CWC, considering her protection.” 

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