Pathanamthitta, Kerala, Jan 21 : Authorities in Kerala have arrested 57 of the 59 individuals accused in the alleged years-long sexual abuse of an 18-year-old Dalit girl, according to district police chief VG Vinod Kumar. The arrests were made following a comprehensive investigation, with the last suspect, a 25-year-old man, taken into custody from his home on Sunday morning.
The victim has accused a total of 62 individuals of blackmailing and sexually abusing her over a five-year period, starting when she was just 13 years old. The abuse came to light after her teachers reported noticeable changes in her behavior to the District Child Welfare Committee. During subsequent counseling sessions, the girl disclosed the extent of the abuse, prompting the committee to inform the police. A case was registered at the Ilavumthitta police station on January 10.
Kumar stated, “All the listed accused, except two currently abroad, have been arrested through a comprehensive probe.” He added that a special investigation team, led by woman IPS officer S Ajitha Beegam, is overseeing the case.
Based on the victim’s statements, police have registered 30 cases across four police stations in the district. The girl also revealed that she was subjected to sexual abuse by five minors. Investigations indicated that several accused met the victim at a private bus stand in the district, where she was subsequently taken to various locations in vehicles and assaulted.
Police reported that the victim was gang-raped on at least five occasions, including incidents inside a car and at the Pathanamthitta General Hospital in January 2024. In a separate incident last year, a youth who contacted the girl via Instagram lured her into a rubber plantation in Ranni, where he and three others raped her.
Kumar emphasized the urgency of the investigation, stating, “The objective is to complete the investigation and submit the charge sheet as soon as possible.”
