44 persons arrested for raping a 17-year-old girl

INDIA REPORTER TODAY NEWS

KERALA : SUNIL CHATTERJEE

32 criminal cases have been registered against 44 men on charges of rape and molestation of a 17-year-old gitrl in the Pandikar region of Malappuram district, recently.

Police sources reveal that 20 persons have been arrested in connection with the case so far. The survivor is currently in the protection of the State Government’s Child Welfare Committee. According to DSP P.P. Shams, the victim was sexually abused in 2016 and again in 2017 and this is the third time she faced sexual abuse.

Shams said that the victim had given 164 statements before the magistrate that she was sexually abused in 2016 and 2017 since she was 13 years old. After the incident, she was at Nirbhaya Shelter Home. Later, she was shifted to her relatives where she faced sexual assault for the third time. He further told reporters here that there are a total of 44 suspects. Seven cases are of grave nature. All the suspects in the grave crimes were arrested. In remaining cases, suspects are yet to be arrested.

Mr. Shajesh Basker, a member of the Child Welfare Committee said that they are monitoring police investigations in the case.

He said that many people from a particular area were involved in this case. It is suspected that some personal revenge or vested interests were behind the incident. Now when the girl is under Child Protection, no one can influence or threaten her.