Pathanamthitta:

As many as 57 of the total of 59 people accused in the sensational case of alleged sexual abuse of a Dalit girl in the district, have been arrested so far, police said on Sunday.

Since 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, district police chief V G Vinod Kumar said.

A 25-year-old youth was the last person who was taken into custody in the incident and he was held from nearby his house here on Sunday morning, the officer said in a statement here.

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.

Based 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, police 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.

The 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.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Pathanamthitta:

Nine more persons were taken into custody for allegedly raping a Dalit girl, who is an athlete, at various locations when she was a minor, police on Saturday said. According to the police, 15 persons have been held in connection with the case so far.

Six persons were arrested on Friday after registering five FIRs in two police stations in the Pathanamthitta district, they added.

The arrests were made based on the statement of an 18-year-old girl, who alleged she had been subjected to rape multiple times since the age of 16, the police said.

The police added that they received evidence indicating that the girl was exploited by individuals including her coaches, fellow athletes, and classmates.

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.

As the incidents occurred when she was a minor, sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, also would be invoked against the accused, a top police official said.

Meanwhile, the Pathanamthitta Child Welfare Committee (CWC) stated that individuals outside the Pathanamthitta district might also be involved in the case.

According to the CWC chairman, the girl had been a victim of sexual exploitation since the age of 13. As it was an unusual case, she was referred to a psychologist for more in-depth counseling, he told a news channel. The CWC also revealed that several phone numbers of potential suspects were found saved on her father’s phone.

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.

The issue 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, 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. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)