A day after arresting a 37-year-old man for sexually abusing his minor stepdaughter, the Elamakkara police on Thursday arrested her mother as well for covering up the incident.
The police had arrested the man, who hails from Vypeen, after it emerged that he had sexually abused the 13-year-old girl at their home at Perandoor more than six months ago. The 31-year-old mother has been charged with relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for not reporting her daughter’s ordeal with the authorities concerned.
“It has been found that the girl was abused by him multiple times over the past one year. The woman, who was a widow, had initially started living with the accused and later married him,” said P.T. Bejoy, Sub Inspector, Elamakkara.
The incident came to light after the elder sister of the victim, a Student Police Cadet, reported it to their grandfather who in turn petitioned the police. A woman police officer was send to speak to the victim and it was confirmed that she was indeed subjected to abuse, Mr. Bejoy said.
The children now remain in the care of their grandfather and grandmother. Both the accused were produced before the court and remanded.