Teen girl in search of job gang-raped in Kochi city, nine held 

KOCHI: After the Thrikkakara rape case in which a circle inspector-ranked officer heading Beypore coastal police station was named an accused, yet another brutal incident of gang rape has surfaced in the city. Kochi city police said nine persons, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with the case while a search is under way for the other accused. There will be more arrests in the coming days, the police said.

The ordeal occurred in August this year when the 17-year-old girl, hailing from Thrissur, arrived in Kochi in search of a job. A man named Manoj got acquainted with her at the KSRTC bus stand and offered her a job. He then took her to a lodge and sexually assaulted her. Later, his friend K B Salam, who arrived there on the direction of Ajith Kumar, also abused her. Then their friends Joshi Thomas, a lodge owner, and Manoj Soman, the manager of the lodge, also sexually abused the girl. 

However, the teenager managed to escape from there and a lodge at Palarivattam run by another accused, Girija. The woman allegedly acted as a middleman and facilitated the girl’s further abuse. The gang rape came to light after the police collected the statement of the girl when she reached Thrissur. The police registered a case after she was found missing from her house and it was during counselling that she disclosed the details.

Joshi Thomas, Ajith Kumar, K B Salam and Manoj Soman were arrested by Central police while Palarivattam police arrested Achu, Girija, Nikhil Antony, Bijin and Bujin Mathew. A case has been registered against the accused under the Pocso Act. According to sources, another person, Godwin, was also taken into custody and his interrogation is under way.

More arrests soon: Cops
Nine persons, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with the case while a search is under way for the other accused. There will be more arrests in the coming days, the police said.