×

Kerala gang-rape case: Class 12 student, betrothed man among 20 arrested for sexually abusing athlete

Coaches, classmates and autorickshaw drivers were among the accused who allegedly sexually abused the Dalit athlete since the age of 13

Representational image | Shutterstock

Kerala police have arrested five more people in the Pathanamthitta gang-rape case wherein a Dalit athlete accused 62 men of sexually abusing her over five years. With this, at least 20 people have been arrested seven cases registered in the district.

ALSO READ: Pathanamthitta gang-rape shocker: 15 arrested as Kerala teen athlete accuses 62 men of sex abuse

A total of 15 were arrested on Saturday, including a man who was recently engaged and three auto rickshaw drivers. On Friday, five people were arrested for gang-rape of the survivor.

The woman, now 18, filed a complaint with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), saying the abuse started at the age of 13. The National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognizance of the case.

The first time she was sexually abused was by a man named Subin. He and his friends circulated her nude videos and continued the torture. Later, the athlete was abused at training camps by coaches and classmates. Two of the arrested are minors, including a Class 12 student.

Though she did not have a smartphone of her own, she had been using her father's device. Police identified 32 people from the smartphone while several others were identified from her diary entries. She reportedly met 32 people through her smartphone.

The survivor was raped at her own home, in a bus and a car as well as public places like bus stands. Police have seized two vehicles. Cases are being investigated by police stations in Pathanamthitta, Konni, Ilavumthitta, Aranmula and Malayalapuzha.