Thiruvananthapuram: A shocking incident surfaced from Kerala's Pathanamthitta district where an 18-year-old girl athlete alleged sexual harassment by over 60 men over the past five years. Police took cognizance of the matter and arrested five people. Meanwhile, 10 others were also taken into custody,
The survivor claimed that had been sexually assaulted by friends, coaches and senior sportsmen since she was 13 years old, The girl revealed the sexual assault during a counselling session conducted by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Pathanamthitta after the survivor's teachers informed the panel about behavioural changes in the teenager, reported IANS.
After shocking revelations made by the girl athlete, the CWC handed over the case to the district police chief at Pathanamthitta. In her preliminary statement, the girl reportedly revealed the names of 40 people whose mobile numbers she had saved on her father's mobile, the cellphone which she was using.
As per the survivor, at the age of 13 years, she was forcibly shown porn videos by a neighbour and was then sexually abused by him at an isolated hill, reported CNBC. She also alleged rape by the friends of the neighbour.
The local police stations in the districts of Elavanthitta, Konni and Pathanamthitta registered five FIRs, and more will be filed in the coming days, reported IANS.
The FIRs have been registered under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Notably, the five accused arrested by the police are below 30 years of age.
The District Police Chief has constituted a special team to probe the matter.
(With inputs from IANS)
