Pathanamthitta: A couple from Charalkunnu in Pathanamthitta, Jayesh and his wife Reshmi, have been arrested for brutally assaulting youths after luring them into a honeytrap. Police officers said they were shocked after viewing videos the duo had filmed on their phones.

In the first case, Reshmi first struck up a friendship with a 19-year-old youth, a Ranni native, over the phone and later invited him to her house. When he reached Maramon junction on September 1, around 12.30 pm, Jayesh picked him up on a bike and took him home. There, the youth was forced to act as if he was having sexual relations with Reshmi while Jayesh filmed the act.

When the victim resisted, Jayesh allegedly threatened to kill him, tied his hands with a shawl, pressed a knife to his neck, and stamped on his chest, neck and legs. According to the FIR, Reshmi handed Jayesh a rod, with which he beat the victim’s back, arms and legs. He allegedly tied the youth’s hand with a cycle chain, suspended him with a rope, and continued the assault, while Reshmi used a cutting plier on his finger.

The FIR further states that the couple slapped him repeatedly, sprayed something on his navel causing swelling, and forced him to reveal the passcodes to his phones, which they then stole. Reshmi allegedly took ₹19,000 from his wallet. The victim was later abandoned near an auto stand, stripped of his pants.

Multiple bruises and wounds were noted on his arms, shoulders, chest, stomach, eyes, forehead and legs. The couple has been booked for assault, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation, extortion and theft. 

The victim initially avoided telling police the truth due to shame, giving other reasons for his injuries. However, growing suspicion led investigators to uncover the couple’s role. 

Police said the couple had similarly targeted another youth from Alappuzha, employed in Bengaluru. Reshmi invited him home, Jayesh picked him up from Thiruvalla, and he, too, was assaulted. Pepper spray was allegedly used on his genitals before he was dumped on the roadside. The duo is also accused of stealing an iPhone from the Alappuzha youth.

Pathanamthitta SP has constituted a special investigation team for a detailed probe.