With the arrest of a 25-year-old man on Sunday, Kerala police have now arrested 57 out of the 59 accused in the sexual abuse case of a Dalit teen athlete. A senior police officer of the district confirmed the arrests, reported PTI.
District police chief V G Vinod Kumar said that the first case in this regard was registered at Ilavumthitta police station on January 10. All the listed accused, except two who are currently abroad, have been arrested through a comprehensive probe, as reported by PTI.
𒈔A 25-year-old youth was the last person who was taken into custody in the incident, and he was held near his house on Sunday morning, the officer said in a statement.
🅺The investigation into the disturbing case began when teachers at the victim’s educational institution noticed significant changes in her behaviour and alerted the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Following her counselling, the committee notified the police, leading to the formation of a special investigation team headed by the Pathanamthitta Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Probe On The Case
🤡A special investigation team, led by woman IPS officer S. Ajitha Beegam, has been investigating the case under the supervision of the district police chief.
ওBased on the statement of the accused, a total of 30 cases had been registered under four police stations in the district, the officer said, adding that five minors were also among the accused.
🦄The objective of the police team is to complete the investigation and submit the chargesheet at the earliest, he added.
▨The investigation so far has revealed that several of the accused met the girl at a private bus stand in Pathanamthitta. She was then taken to various locations in vehicles and subjected to abuse, District police chief V G Vinod Kumar said.
🎶The probe also found that the girl, while she was studying class XII last year, was taken by a youth who was acquainted with her through Instagram to a rubber plantation in Ranni, where he raped her along with three others.
🌳Police said the investigation revealed she was gang-raped on at least five occasions, including incidents inside a car and at the Pathanamthitta General Hospital in January 2024.
▨The girl, who is now 18 years old, has alleged in her complaint that she was sexually abused by 62 individuals since the age of 13.
How The Case Came To Light
ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚThe matter came to light during counselling conducted by the Child Welfare Committee, after the victim's teachers at an educational institution informed the panel about noticeable changes in her behaviour.
༒The committee subsequently notified the police, and an investigation is on.
