Thiruvananthapuram / Father pushes 12-yr-old daughter into sex trade in Kerala, 3 held

When Childline officials at Malappuram district approached a Class 7 student for counselling following a request from her school, they never imagined that it will unravel a heinous crime. At the counselling session on Saturday, the girl recounted stories of sexual abuse, at the hands of different men, and allegedly with the knowledge of her parents.

According to sources in Childline, the 12-year-old girl was being sexually abused and even raped by multiple persons in the last two years. "The instances seem to be numerous and the child seemed to have no count over how many times she was abused," a Childline official told TNM. Medical reports have confirmed that the child was indeed raped.

The incident came to light when recently, other parents from the same taluk informed the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the child’s school that they suspected she was being subjected to something inappropriate at home. “The teachers then began to observe the student. She was absent in the school on most days and mostly kept to herself. As the teachers felt that something was bothering the girl, they informed Childline,” said the source.

“She told us that her father's friends did things to her. But we realised the gravity of the situation when we understood that the child was actually pushed into sex trade by her parents. From what we came to know, the parents are not in a good financial condition and they made a living with this,” alleged a source in district Childline to TNM.

According to officials of Tirurangadi police, of the multiple persons who have allegedly abused her, she could clearly name only two persons. “We have arrested those two along with the father of the child. We are finding it a bit difficult to proceed with the case as the child does not know the names of any other people who have abused her and the father is staunchly denying all allegations,” said the official.

The two arrested other than the girl’s father are 38-year-old Shaiju Karappan and 36-year-old Ashraf Muhammad Kutty.

The two have been charged with sections 354 (A) (1) (i) (Physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures), 376 (Rape) of Indian Penal Code and sections 4 (Punishment for penetrative sexual assault), section 6 (Punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault) and section 10 (Punishment for aggravated sexual assault) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

“The child is not giving statements to the police as she spoke to the officials of Childline. The only thing she told us was that her mother was unaware of this, while her father knew. But the father has denied the allegation,” the police official stated.

The child is at present under the care of Child Protection Committee members and is housed in a rescue home in the district.