Shocking! Almost 40 men allegedly raped, sexually harassed Kerala teenager over past few months

More than 30 men allegedly sexually abused and harassed a 17-year-old girl from Kerala over the past few months, police said, adding that seven rape cases have been filed based on her accounts since 2016.

The teenager’s mother had filed a missing complaint in November last year in Malappuram, after which the police traced her from Palakkad.

She told the officials about the alleged abuse she faced during counselling at a care home where she is now lodged, as per a NDTV report.

"There are 29 cases registered based on the teenager's statement since November. Of these, four are rape cases," Malappuram District Police Chief Abdul Karim U was quoted as saying.

"There are a total of 40 accused based on the survivor's statements since 2016. Twenty have already been arrested, of which 15 are out on bail. Five accused are in remand. Seven rape cases have been registered," Karim added.

After the girl was allegedly raped in 2016, she briefly stayed at a children's home before she went back to her mother. She was allegedly sexually abused again in 2017 and was allowed to leave the children's home after a span of two years to be with her mother, based on the mother's request, the report said.

"Most of the accused in this case are known to the girl and her mother. The mother claims she did not know about these incidents but this needs further probe. Some of the accused in these cases are even their neighbours. After she went missing, she was traced in Palakkad and the men have been arrested," Pandikkad Inspector Mohammad Haneefa was quoted as saying in the report.

The Child Welfare Committee claims they had taken all legal and logical steps to ensure the safety of the child, when she was released from the Child Home about a year ago. "They are supposed to be sent out with their parents to ensure their protection as well as enabling restoration to society," Shajesh Basker, CWC chief in Malappuram told news agency PTI.