Pathanamthitta: The sexual abuse case of a Dalit girl, which started when she was 13 years old, might soon have more number of accused than the infamous Suryanelli case. The victim's statement says that up to 62 people could be involved in the crime.

In the 1996 Suryanelli case, 42 persons were accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl. However, the ongoing Pathanamthitta case is expected to surpass that number, with up to 62 suspects to be implicated. This case is poised to become the first in the state with such a high number of accused under the POCSO Act, which was not in force during the Suryanelli case.

The victim had saved the phone numbers of the suspects in her father's phone, with over 40 numbers identified. These persons are likely to be the first to be named as suspects, and police have already started efforts to track them down. Some of the numbers were involved in sending explicit videos of the girl via WhatsApp, which were used to pressure her and have become key evidence in the case.

It is believed that the abuse went unnoticed by her parents due to their lack of knowledge about smartphones. Based on the girl's testimony, the suspects are spread across five police station jurisdictions, prompting the possibility of forming a special investigation team involving officers from multiple stations.

Pathanamthitta private bus stand was made the main hub

The private bus stand in Pathanamthitta was reportedly the primary location where the girl was transferred. According to police reports, some empty corners and the upper floors of the bus stand were used by anti-social elements for their activities. The area is also known for drug trafficking, with limited police surveillance and no security cameras. The girl was called to the bus stand and introduced to various people there. Police have received information that she was taken to different places from the stand.

The Pathanamthitta Women’s Police began recording the girl’s statement early on Friday and continued through Saturday. The police are working to gather information about the identities of the perpetrators and the locations where the abuse happened. Based on her statements, the number of accused in the case is expected to rise. The case is likely to spread across police stations in Pathanamthitta, Elavumthitta, Malayalapuzha, Konni, and Aranmula.

The girl, who was an athlete, began receiving obscene messages and images from her male friend Subin when she was 13. The abuse began shortly afterwards. POCSO charges will be filed against all the accused, and charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) will also be imposed. Two of the registered cases are at the Elavumthitta station and three at the Pathanamthitta station.

List of arrested individuals

The following individuals have been arrested in connection with the case: Subin (24), S Sandeep (30), VK Vineeth (30), K Anandu (21), Sudhi (Shreeni-24), Shamnad (20), Afsal (21), his brother Aashiq (20), Nidhin Prasad (21), Abhinav (18), Karthik (18), Sudheesh (27), Appu (Nishad-31), Aravind (23), Anandu Pradeep (24), Vishnu (24), Deepu P Suresh (22), Binu K Joseph (39), Abhilash Kumar (19); and a 17-year-old boy.