The case involves multiple arrests due to serious allegations under various sexual offense laws. The woman reported the abuse following an intervention by counselors, revealing a troubling pattern of violence against a member of the marginalized community.
Disturbing Allegations: Dalit Woman Claims 64 Men Abused Her Over Five Years
Disturbing Allegations: Dalit Woman Claims 64 Men Abused Her Over Five Years
An 18-year-old Dalit woman from India's Kerala has accused 64 men, including neighbors and coaches, of repeated sexual abuse since she was 13.
An 18-year-old Dalit woman from Kerala, India, has come forward to accuse 64 men of sexual abuse that has spanned five years, starting when she was just 13. The shocking claims have resulted in police arresting 28 suspects so far, who remain in custody without public comment. The accused vary in age from 17 to 47 and reportedly include the woman's neighbors, sports coaches, and friends of her father, intensifying concerns over community trust and safety.
The gravity of the situation was brought to light after a team of counselors, part of a government initiative, visited her home and prompted her to speak out. In response, police have filed approximately 18 cases under India's penal code and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, specifically designed to protect those from historically marginalized communities. Additional charges are anticipated under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), given that the alleged incidents started when the woman was a minor.
Reports indicate that the abuse initiated with her neighbor, who allegedly took explicit photographs of her. The situation escalated when she was 16, culminating in three separate incidents of gang rape. These abusers utilized her father's phone number to communicate with her, and details from her phone are now being analyzed by authorities as part of their investigation.
The woman, an athlete who frequently attended sports camps, appears to have been targeted through her various engagements in the community. Alarmingly, her family was reportedly unaware of the ongoing abuse until the recent intervention. Following her disclosure, she has been relocated to a shelter operated by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for her safety.
As more details emerge, the fallout from this case continues to resonate nationwide, raising critical discussions about systemic violence against women, particularly those from marginalized communities in India. Authorities are expected to conduct further investigations as they prepare for a formal statement from the survivor to a female police officer, while public outrage grows over the alleged perpetrators and systemic failures that allowed such abuse to persist for years.
