Thiruvananthapuram: One more person has been arrested in connection with the gangrape of a 25-year-old woman in front of her five-year-old son in Kadinamkulam in Thiruvananthapuram district.
With this all seven accused, including her husband, have been arrested in the case, the police said.
Noufal, 27, of Pallipuram was arrested by the Kadinamkulam police and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. Absconding since the incident that took place on June 4, Noufal was nabbed from a house of his relative at Channankara in Thiruvananthapuram. He is an autorickshaw driver.
Other accused Mansoor, 30, Akbar Shah, 25, Arshad, 26, Manoj, 26, and Vettuthura native Rajan, 65, were produced before the magistrate via video conference on Sunday and sent to sub-jail.
The shocking incident occurred at Kadinamkulam panchayat near the state capital on June 4. The 25-year-old woman was forced to drink liquor by her husband and sexually assaulted by his friends in front of their five-year-old son.
A case has been registered against seven accused, including the husband, for kidnapping, assaulting and gang rape.
Since the incident took place in front of the child, a case under Protection of Children from sexual offences (POCSO) Act has also been registered.
NCW seeks report from Kerala Police
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Sunday sought a report from the Kerala Police on the action taken in the incident.
The NCW had taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and expressed concern about the grave violation of safety and security of women in the state, which it said, "cannot be overlooked and needs to be addressed immediately".
"The Commission was informed by Superintendent of Police, Thiruvananthapuram (Rural) that six accused have been arrested in the matter. NCW has also been apprised that the victim's medical examination has been conducted and the survivor and her children were in safe custody," the NCW said in a statement.
"The Commission has also written to R Sreelekha IPS, DGP, Kerala directing to apprise it at the earliest with the action taken report in the case till filing of the charge sheet," it added.
