44 arrested in Kerala for raping 18-year-old girl over 5 years

The Dalit athlete reported being sexually abused by 62 individuals, according to Indian authorities.

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Police in the Indian state of Kerala have arrested 44 men accused of repeatedly raping an 18-year-old girl over a span of five years in a case that has shocked the coastal tourist state.

The victim, an athlete from the Dalit community, told authorities that she was sexually abused by 62 individuals during this time.

The horrific crimes came to light when the girl, in a gender awareness programme, confided in a volunteer about her ordeal.

According to PS Nandakumar, the deputy superintendent of police in Pathanamthitta district, 58 of the 62 accused have been identified, with 44 arrested in the past two days.

Authorities are still working to apprehend the remaining 14 men, including several minors.

The abuse began when the victim was just 13 years old, following an alleged rape by a neighbour. Four of the accused are reported to be minors.

Under Indian law, those accused of raping individuals from lower-caste communities face stricter bail provisions.

This case highlights a distressing trend in India, where over 31,000 rapes were reported in 2022, though conviction rates remain notoriously low.