Police in the southern Indian state of Kerala arrested 44 men accused of raping an 18-year-old girl over five years, a police official said Tuesday, in a case that has shocked the resort town. coastal.
The victim, an athlete who belongs to the so-called lower caste community known as Dalits, told police in a statement that she was sexually abused by 62 people over five years.
Police identified 58 of those men, some of whom are minors, and arrested 44 in the past two days, authorities said.
“We have identified the remaining 14 and they will be arrested soon,” said deputy superintendent of police of Pathanamthitta district where the crimes occurred, PS Nandakumar. Reuters.
The case came to light after the girl recounted the gang rape to a volunteer during a gender awareness programme. Nandkumar, who is leading the investigation, said details of how the crimes were committed are still being investigated.
In her statement to police, the victim said the abuse began when she was 13 after her neighbor allegedly raped her.
Local media reported that four of the accused were minors.
Under Indian law, accused in rape cases involving lower castes are not immediately granted bail. Reuters he was unable to reach any of the defendants for comment.
In 2022, the latest year for which data is available, more than 31,000 rapes were reported in India, and conviction rates are notoriously low.
