Pathanamthitta: A total of 42 individuals have been arrested so far in connection with the serial sexual abuse of a minor girl, with 29 cases registered at police stations in Elavumthitta, Pathanamthitta, Pandalam, and Malayalappuzha. The crime came to light after the survivor, now 18, disclosed her ordeal to a community counsellor.

According to District Police Chief VG Vinod Kumar, among the total apprehended, 26 were taken across 11 cases in Pathanamthitta, while 14 arrests were made in 16 cases in Elavumthitta. Two individuals were also taken into custody in connection with a case registered in Pandalam.

The arrests on Monday included eight from Elavumthitta—Amal (18), Adarsh (20), Shivakumar (21), Umesh (19), Sreeju (18), Aji (19), Ashwin (21), and Sajin (23); four from Pathanamthitta—Abhijith (19), Joji Mathew (25), Ambadi (24), and Aravind (20); and two from Pandalam—Akash (19) and Akash (22). The victim has testified to being subjected to gang rape in multiple locations, including the Pathanamthitta General Hospital and other urban areas of the district, the release added.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by District Police Chief Vinod Kumar and supervised by Thiruvananthapuram Range DIG Ajitha Beegam has been constituted to expedite the investigation. The team comprises 25 officers, including key members such as DySP S Nandakumar, Inspectors D Shibukumar (Pathanamthitta), TK Vinod Krishnan (Elavumthitta), Jibu John (Ranni), and Sub Inspector KR Shemi Mol from the Women’s Police Station. The investigation focuses on apprehending the remaining suspects and gathering scientific evidence, including analysing mobile phones and other materials.