Five persons, including a woman, were arrested on Sunday for allegedly forcing her daughter into prostitution and subjecting her to sexual exploitation.
Besides the mother of the 18-year-old victim, the others who were arrested by the Nedumangad police were identified as Navas of Nedumangad, Hashim of Tholicode, Shanavas of Parandode in Aryanad, and Chithrarajan of Vembayam. They were apprehended by a team that was led by Nedumangad circle inspector S.S. Suresh Kumar. Efforts were currently on to nab the victim’s stepfather, who is alleged to be the mastermind behind the alleged racket.
According to the police, the victim was taken by her mother and stepfather to various places including Karamana, Tholicode, Karipur, Anad and Uzhappakonam where they allegedly offered the victim to several people.
The victim had been lodged at the Mahila Mandiram at Poojappura after she had been allegedly sexually abused by a man two years ago. She had returned to her home when she turned 18 years. “It was later that she wrote to the authorities of the shelter home, recounting the alleged incidents pertaining to the flesh trade that had taken place in late 2015. She has alleged in her letter that her mother coerced her daughter to submit herself to their devious plans,” Mr. Kumar said.
While the case had been initially registered by the Valiyamala police after being alerted by the officials of the Mahila Mandiram, it was later investigated by the Nedumangad circle inspector, considering its serious nature. While the victim has been shifted to the shelter home yet again, all the accused have been remanded to judicial custody after being produced at a local court.