The Thumba police will arraign the alleged blackmailer Jayachandran, who was arrested here recently, as an accused in a gang-rape case that was registered at the Thumba police station nearly a year ago. This is after the victim in that case saw his photographs in the media and alleged that he was among those who raped her.
B. Vinod, Circle Inspector, Medical College, said the victim was under rehabilitation at the Nirbhaya shelter home here after the said incident, which happened when she had reached Thiruvananthapuram from Neeleswaram in Kasaragod in search of a job last year. She had seen Jayachandran’s pictures in the media after his arrest last week and told the shelter home authorities that he too was among those who had raped her at Kudappanakunnu, Mr. Vinod said.
“That case is still under investigation, with 13 out of the total 17 accused being arrested. Now that the victim has stated that Jayachandran was among those who raped her, we will apply for his custody when he is produced before court on Tuesday. There will be an identification process then. We have already recorded an additional statement from her on Sunday and the Thumba police have been asked to incorporate Jayachandran’s name as an accused,” Mr. Vinod said.
The victim, a 25-year-old, had reached Thampanoor in April last year, from where she accepted help from an autorickshaw driver who then allegedly raped her. He then handed her over to a woman, who allegedly held her captive at Kudappanakunnu and presented her to more men.
The woman, however, managed to escape when she was being taken to another house in Veli. An autorickshaw driver took her to a doctor who alerted the police.
