Nine Arrested in Kerala for Sexual Assault on Teenager

Arrests Made in Disturbing Case of Teen Sexual Abuse

In a troubling incident from Kasaragod district in Kerala, authorities have apprehended nine individuals, including two government employees, on charges of sexually assaulting a teenager. The police disclosed this information on Tuesday.

According to the police, the accused had befriended the teenager through a mobile application catering to the LGBTQ community. Among the arrested are a railway officer and the sub-district education officer of Kasaragod. Following the allegations, the education officer, Sanuddeen V.K., was suspended by the director of the general education department due to his involvement in the POCSO case.

This incident has tarnished the reputation of the department. A senior police official revealed that the 16-year-old boy was subjected to sexual exploitation by 14 different men over a span of more than two years at various locations, including his home, Kannur, and Kozhikode districts.

The case came to light when the teenager's mother spotted a man fleeing from their home. Upon questioning, her son disclosed the entire situation. She subsequently reported the matter to the Child Line, which alerted the police.

Based on the boy's testimony, the police have registered 14 cases against the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act of 2012 over the past two days.

Additionally, a Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising a police deputy superintendent and four inspectors, has been formed to investigate eight related cases in Kasaragod district. The remaining six cases have been transferred to Kozhikode and Kannur districts, where the alleged assaults took place. The ages of the 14 accused range from 25 to 51 years.