Kerala: A 14-Year-Old Girl Gangraped, Three UP Migrants Held

Three migrant workers have been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Kochi, Kerala on Tuesday. The minor girl was reportedly abused multiple times since April, according to the police. The horrific incident of gangrape was reported at the Eloor police station in Ernakulam city on Sunday.

She was allegedly gangraped by a group of migrant workers, originally from Uttar Pradesh, who were living in the neighbourhood, under Kochi city police limits, The Indian Express reported.

So far, police have chased down only three people while continuing to search for others in their gang. According to police, six migrants were involved in the crime. The remaining accused are absconding. They are suspected to have fled to their respective hometowns. Natives of Uttar Pradesh, these six men have been living in Kerala for work. They were sustaining a living by taking up carpentry work and other similar jobs to earn money, Times Now reported. They used to stay in the Manjammel area of Kochi.

What You Should Know

• A 14-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped by a group of migrant workers in Kochi.
• Three of the accused have been arrested.
• The girl broke down during a counselling session at her school and opened up about the alleged abuse.

The girl narrated the ordeal during a counselling session

As per reports, the girl was abused in her home during the time when her parents were away. She was also forced to come to the rented premises the accused were living in. During a counselling session at her school, the girl broke down and opened up about the alleged abuse.

The girl's grandmother reportedly took her to a doctor who helped her in contacting the cops. An officer deployed at the Eloor police station told The News Minute, "The other three people had fled to their home towns during the lockdown. The incident first took place in March, when the lockdown was imposed."

The arrested were identified as Shahid, 24, of Hanupura, Farhad Khan, 29, of Nangar in Rampur city and Haneef, 28, of Nangar. They were booked under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 (POCSO) and the Juvenile Justice Act (JJ Act).

Also Read: Lockdown Horror: Cases of fathers raping daughters across India

Read More Stories By Ria Das