Kalpetta: A medical report on Tuesday confirmed that seven minor girls of Wayanad orphanage had been subjected to sexual abuse.
Six people have been taken into custody in connection with the incident. Eleven cases were registered against the accused under various sections including under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) act.
The accused will be produced before the court today.
The girls, all in the age group of 14-15 years, were staying at the orphanage (Yatheem Khana) at Muttil in Kalpetta.
The incident came to light after one of the girls was seen coming out from a nearby shop in suspicious circumstances and was questioned by a teacher. He informed the matter to orphanage staff, following which a complaint was lodged with the police, they said.
Police investigations revealed that the girls have been subjected to sexual harassment since January.
The shop is located near the orphanage and the accused used to lure the girls to the shop while they proceeded to the hostel from the orphanage. Further, the accused threatened the girls and raped them on several occasions.
Those in custody are being interrogated by a police team headed by district police chief Rajpal Meena. Any other information about the incident was not known immediately and police said more details would be shared as the probe progresses.
The authorities have also arranged a counselling session for the girls.
The incident comes close on the heels of a 16-year-old girl being allegedly raped by a church vicar at Kottiyoor in neighbouring Kannur district.
RELATED STORIES
.jpg?$p=cce9be6&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
%20(1)%20(1).jpg?$p=8b394ed&q=0.8&f=16x11&w=104)
