Kerala: 60-year-old businessman sexually assaults minor, police negligence triggers anger
What's the story
In an infuriating incident, a 60-year-old businessman Moideen Kutty was arrested on Saturday from Shornur and brought to Changaramkulam police station for molesting a minor girl inside a theatre in Malappuram's Edappal town (Kerala). The Kerala police's laxity in this case, which happened on April 18, raised serious questions. The man was arrested after visuals of the horrendous incident were shown by the media.
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Man sits between mother and child, assaults latter
"The CCTV footage showed Moideen sitting between the mother and child. The man can be seen indulging in some sort of consensual act with the mother while sexually assaulting the girl at the same time (sic)," a police officer said.
Delay despite evidence
Theater owner hands visual evidence to child helpline authorities
As soon as the theater owner came across the footage, he informed child helpline authorities, who gave the evidence to police on April 28. Despite this, they delayed action. A case was registered under IPC section 354 (outraging modesty of a woman) and POCSO act on Saturday. The child welfare committee was given the girl's custody, after taking her away from her mother.
Details
Opposition leader demands actions against erring police officials
Ramesh Chennithala, leader of the opposition in the state assembly, demanded strict action against police personnel for the lapse. Changaramkulam Sub-Inspector KG Baby was suspended for delaying the investigation, News18 reports. In the last ten years, Kerala saw a 600% rise in sexual crimes against children. In 2017, 1,017 child rape cases were reported, whereas in 2008 the number was 215.