In the southern Indian state of Kerala, an 18-year-old Dalit woman has accused 64 men of sexual abuse spanning five years, beginning when she was 13. Twenty-eight suspects, aged 17 to 47, have been arrested. Among them are neighbors, sports coaches, and friends of her father. None of the arrested men have yet made a public statement.
The case came to light when government counselors visited her home. Subsequently, police filed 18 charges under various Indian criminal statutes, including the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act – designed to protect members of lower castes and tribes – and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Further charges are expected. A 25-member police investigative team is working on the case.
Initial reports suggest the abuse began with a neighbor who molested the woman, took explicit photos, and later shared them with others. This led to repeated assaults over several years, including three alleged gang rapes.
The perpetrators reportedly used her father’s phone to contact her; police are using this phone to identify additional suspects. The woman, described as an athlete who attended sports camps, allegedly stored the abusers’ contact information on the phone. Her family reportedly was unaware of the abuse.
A lawyer heading the district’s Child Welfare Committee (CWC) noted that the sports camps may have facilitated further abuse.
The woman received counseling, disclosed the abuse to a psychologist, and is now in CWC protective care. She is scheduled to give a full statement to a female police officer. The allegations have sparked widespread outrage across India.
