Kasaragod: The Bekal Police registered five separate FIRs under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act following allegations that a 17-year-old girl with a mental illness was sexually assaulted by five different individuals over the period of a year.

Three of the accused have been arrested, said Bekal police. They have been identified as Muhammed Noushad A T (39) of Panayal, Shareef (40) from Perumbala, both autorickshaw drivers; and Salih (29) of Kottikulam, a salesperson at a vegetable shop. The minor girl has been unable to recall the names of the remaining two individuals. 

She was reportedly targeted while living in a rented house in Pallikkara grama panchayat. She and her family have since moved out of the panchayat. 

According to senior police officers, the minor suffered from a mental illness during the period of the abuse but has since recovered and is now in good health following medical treatment.

While the Bekal police received an initial tip-off regarding the abuse around six months ago, the minor girl was initially unable to open up to the authorities. The police sought the assistance of the Kasaragod Child Welfare Committee (CWC). On Thursday, June 2, CWC representatives escorted the girl to the District Hospital in Kanhangad, where a medical examination officially confirmed she was sexually assaulted multiple times.

Based on the report submitted by the CWC following the medical examination, the Bekal police registered five separate cases under the POCSO Act.

Two police officers overseeing the case said that the five incidents happened in different time periods and are unconnected, with each suspect allegedly assaulting the girl on one separate occasion. There are no complaints of repetitive abuse by the same individual. 

According to the police, the girl was assaulted first by an auto driver, and after that, the four accused abused her.