An 18-year-old Dalit athlete from Kerala was sexually abused by at least 62 men over the past five years. The girl from Pathanamthitta district revealed the abuse to social workers during a visit.
The girl’s family, including her mother, was unaware of the abuse. Many of the abusers were identified from the contact list on her father’s phone, who is an alcoholic.
“She hadn’t shared anything with the mother,” said Advocate N Rajeev, head of the Pathanamthitta Child Welfare Committee. “Since the girl is a district-level athlete, she has attended various sports camps over the years. That situation might have facilitated this series of sexual abuse.”
The abuse began when the girl was 13 years old. Her neighbour showed her pornography and later abused her, followed by his friends.
Cases have been registered against 40 men under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. 15 people, including coaches and classmates, have been arrested so far.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken cognizance of the incident and demanded the immediate arrest of all accused and necessary support for the victim, including medical and psychological care.
“While 5 accused have been arrested, the Commission strongly condemns this heinous crime and has directed authorities to ensure the immediate arrest of all accused, a fair and time-bound investigation, and necessary support for the victim,” the NCW stated.
