Idukki: The police have arrested two individuals, both natives of Tamil Nadu, in connection with an incident where schoolgirls were brought to a lodge in Munnar and sexually assaulted. The arrested individuals have been identified as Santhosh, a native of Dindigul in Tamil Nadu, and an accompanying 17-year-old minor.
According to the police, Santhosh established a friendship with one of the schoolgirls through social media and tactfully lured the two to Munnar before assaulting them.

The police stated that the accused initially got acquainted with the schoolgirl via social media. They mutually decided to meet in Munnar on June 15. The prime accused youth had informed the girl that he would be bringing a friend along and requested her to bring a female friend as well. Accordingly, when the girls arrived in Munnar town, the accused approached them and took them to a nearby resort.

The girls were accommodated at the resort near Munnar town for two consecutive days. The police stated that during this entire period, the children were subjected to brutal sexual exploitation.

The incident came to light after the schoolgirls failed to attend school for two consecutive days. When the teachers questioned them regarding their absence, the girls revealed the ordeal they had faced. The school authorities immediately alerted the police, who initiated an investigation. Following the registration of the police case, the accused had fled Kerala and crossed over into Tamil Nadu.

The police team apprehended the absconding accused from Tamil Nadu late last night. Legal proceedings have been initiated against the accused under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. The process to produce arrested Santhosh before the court and remand him has commenced. The police added that the minor accused will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.