An Indian teenager has alleged that she was s*xually assaulted over a five-year period by nearly 60 individuals, including schoolmates, neighbors, relatives, and strangers.
The case involves a 13-year-old girl, the daughter of impoverished wage laborers from her community, who reportedly faced initial abuse at the hands of a neighbor in her village in 2020.
It is alleged that her abuser filmed the incidents, and investigations are ongoing to determine if he used these recordings to blackmail and coerce her into being attacked by numerous other men and boys over the subsequent years.
Authorities became aware of the situation after the girl, now 18, confided in a counselor during a visit to her college in Kerala, revealing the extent of her traumatic experiences.
As a result, 58 men and boys have been arrested on charges of s*xual assault, rape, and gang rape. Two individuals implicated in the case have fled the country, as stated by Kerala Police Deputy Inspector General Ajeetha Begum.
The accused include individuals from various aspects of her life, such as classmates, relatives, and neighbors, spanning ages from minors to men in their mid-40s, according to local police interviews.
While charges have not yet been formally filed, the 58 individuals remain in custody, and none of them have publicly addressed the allegations. In accordance with Indian law, the girl’s identity has been kept confidential.
Sadly, violence against women remains a critical issue in India, fueled by deep-rooted s*xism and patriarchy, despite recent legal reforms aimed at imposing harsher penalties on perpetrators.
In August, a shocking case involving the rape and murder of a medical student in Kolkata ignited widespread protests, prompting a major doctors’ strike as thousands took to the streets to advocate for change.
