MINOR DRUGGED, GANG-RAPED IN KERALA; POLICE ARREST 2, SEARCH ON FOR 5 OTHERS

MALAPPURAM: A 14-year-old girl was allegedly drugged and raped by seven people in Kerala’s Malappuram district, police officials said on Wednesday. Two of the accused have been arrested, the officials said.

According to officials, the accused befriended the minor through social media app Instagram.

Two of the accused allegedly gave her narcotics before sexually assaulting her, the police said. While the two have been arrested, investigation is on to trace other culprits, the officials said.

The assault came to light after the girl, who lives with her mother and grandparents, told a relative about the abuse 10 days ago, the police said.

A case was registered on February 17 following the information provided by the district Childline, the officials said.

According to the police, the girl was using Instagram on her mother’s phone. The accused, who were not interconnected, were her Instagram friends, the police said.

All the accused are in the age group of 19 to 24 years, the officials said. They have been charged under IPC Section 376 (punishment for rape) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.

Two accused, who abused the girl after giving her drugs, have also been booked under the Juvenile Justice Act 77 (Penalty for giving intoxicating liquor or narcotic drug or psychotropic substance to a child).

THE TWO ACCUSED, WHO GAVE HER DRUGS, HAVE ALSO BEEN BOOKED UNDER THE JJ ACT (PENALTY FOR GIVING LIQUOR OR NARCOTIC DRUG OR PSYCHOTROPIC SUBSTANCE TO A CHILD.