Ernakulam: Six young men, including a teenager, have been arrested on charges of raping a minor girl in Vadakkekara. Among the accused is a 19-year-old who had promised to marry the 14-year-old girl, a class 9 student.
The police have identified him as Ajay, 19, of Alumparampil in Neendoor. The other accused are Sharanjit, 21; Albin, 21; Sherinkumar alias Baby, 32; Arun, 21; and Rohit, 21.
The police said Ajay had met the girl on Facebook and wooed her, promising marriage. He obtained her nude pictures, and visited her house along with friends. The police said Sharanjit and Ajay sexually abused the girl.
Sharanjit also took the girl's gold chain for pledging. When the family asked her why her chain was missing, she told them she had given it to Sharanjit.
The family then informed the school authorities who sent her for counselling, during which she revealed that she was abused. The family then lodged a complaint with the police.
Sherinkumar, who was a member of the CPM Chittattukara West local committee's Pooyappalli branch, has been suspended from the party's primary membership.
The accused have been charged under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Information Technology Act has also been invoked.
