Investigate sexual abuse case: SHRC

Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Member K.E. Gangadharan said here on Saturday that the State Police Chief will be directed to conduct a detailed investigation in a case registered by the Peruvannamuzhi police on a complaint by a 16-year-old girl that she had been a victim of sexual abuse by a sex racket in the area.

Mr. Gangadharan told The Hindu that he was contacted by local people and representatives of women’s organisations complaining about laxity on the part of the police in comprehensively probing the case. He said there was also apprehension about efforts to save the culprits who were allegedly involved in the sexual abuse. The State Police Chief would be asked to ensure a detailed investigation, he said.

The minor girl had complained that a racket had been sexually abusing her and other girls of a school and a parallel college in the area. The gang was also suspected to be behind the death of a Class X student of the school last week.

Mr. Gangadharan said he would demand a report by doctors who had conducted the post-mortem examination of the deceased girl whose death was recorded as a case of suicide.

The police would also be asked to constitute a new investigation team, if necessary, to conduct the detailed investigation, he said. “The matter is very serious and disturbing and the culprits should not be allowed to escape the law,” he said.

Remanded

Staff Reporter writes from Kozhikode:

The rural police on Saturday arrested Sareena of Pantheerikkara under Section 366(A) (procuration of minor girl) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

The accused was produced in the Kozhikode Principal District and Sessions Court and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, V.P. Surendran, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Nadapuram, said.

Nine-member gang

The girl had stated in her complaint that a nine-member gang had abused her and several girls from the school. They had also taken the photographs of the victims and threatened them with dire consequences if they complained to their parents.

Several persons had been taken into custody for interrogation. No arrests had been made, the police said. There were also reports that some of the accused had escaped to the Gulf.