PATHANAMTHITTA: A case of alleged sexual exploitation of an 18-year-old Dalit girl athlete for over two years by nearly 60 individuals, including trainers, fellow athletes and classmates, has come to the fore here, prompting a string of FIRs and arrests amid outrage. The Kerala Police on Saturday nabbed nine suspects in this connection, taking the total number of arrests to 15.
Six persons were arrested on Friday after five FIRs were registered at two police stations in Pathanamthitta district, the police said. Stringent charges under relevant sections of the IPC and Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act along with the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) had been invoked.
The arrests were made based on the statement of the victim, who alleged that she had been subjected to rape multiple times since the age of 16. The police said they had received evidence indicating that she was exploited by multiple individuals, including her coaches.
“Preliminary investigation suggested that the girl, who takes part in school-level athletics training, was abused by sports trainers, fellow athletes and others,” said a police officer.
In her statement to the police, the victim claimed that she had used her father’s mobile phone to communicate with the suspects. As many as 40 suspects have been identified based on the call details and information from the diary in her possession, police sources said. All those arrested so far are aged between 19 and 30, and many of them have criminal antecedents.
The abuse occurred at various locations, including public spaces such as Achankottumala near her residence, Chuttippara in Pathanamthitta town and her school.
As per the girl’s statement, she was abused by 62 individuals, starting with her friend, who is her neighbour, at the age of 13. Some of the suspects in custody are her friends and the police are looking to ascertain whether the girl was gang-raped by the suspects, sources said.
The Pathanamthitta Child Welfare Committee (CWC) stated that individuals outside the district might also be involved in the case. The CWC chairman claimed the girl had been a victim of sexual exploitation since she was 13. As it was an unusual case, she was referred to a psychologist for in-depth counselling.
A total of five FIRs had been registered in this connection, and more cases and arrests were expected, the police said. The matter came to light during counselling by the Child Welfare Committee. The victim’s teachers at an educational institution informed the panel about noticeable changes in her behaviour. The committee subsequently notified the police.