Parents, three others arrested in rape of minor girl

Kannur, July 19: In yet another shocking incident of child rape in Kerala, police here have arrested five persons, including the parents of a teenager, who was raped by her father and others since she was 11-years-old.

Police said the girl, who is now 17-years-old, hailed from Alakode, a village in Kannur district. She had been taken to various places in Kannur and Kasaragod districts by her parents and pushed into prostitution for money.

Two cases under section 376 (rape) and three cases under Protection of Child from Sexual Offences have been registered against the accused. While the girl's mother was arrested yesterday, the other accused were arrested three days ago. All the accused have been remanded.

Alakode Circle Inspector M A Mathew told PTI that the travails of the girl came to light after she ran away from a house in Kasaragod where she was raped. She had been taken there as domestic help. The girl was picked up by police who found her walking dazed on a deserted road. When questioned, she narrated the incident, Mathew said.

The girl, who is in a traumatised state, has been taken to a women's home in Kannur. Police said the girl was first raped by a neighbour with her mother's connivance when she was only 11 years. This was followed by her father allegedly raping her several times, she told police.

As per statistics from the state Crime Bureau, this year till March there have been 159 incidents of rape against children, 10 cases of murder, 33 cases of kidnapping and abduction. Other cases against children are 270.

Till March this year, about 480 cases of crime against children have been recorded in the state. During 2012, 1324 cases have been recorded of which 455 are rape cases.

PTI