PATHANAMTHITTA: Kerala police on Monday arrested 14 more people, aged between 18 and 25, in connection with the rape and sexual abuse of a Dalit girl in Pathanamthitta district, raising the total number of accused under custody of 42.
The survivor, who turned 18 two months ago, alleged in her complaint that she had been raped and abused by nearly 60 people since she was 13 years old.
According to his statement, 29 cases have been registered so far in various police stations of the district. One of the accused is suspected to have gone abroad and the police are likely to issue a lookout notice to locate him, sources said.
The survivor revealed in her statement that she was subjected to gang rape on the premises of Pathanamthitta General Hospital and at several other places in the city, police said.
District police chief VG Vinodkumar said a detailed investigation was underway after examining the mobile phones of the accused and the one used by the survivor, along with other evidence. Police are collecting scientific evidence, he said.
Those arrested on Monday are Amal, Adarsh, Akash, Sivakumar, Umesh, Sreeju, Aji, Aswin, Sajin, Abhijith, Joji Mathew, Ambady, Aravind and Akash. children’s rights commission Member S Sunanda met the survivor, who is currently staying at a shelter in the district.