Kochi : Two men were arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape and repeated sexual assault of a woman at a private lodge in Edappally on Friday.
The arrested men were Sreeraj, 30, of Karthikappally, Alappuzha, and Jith Martin, 27, of Thevakkal, Ernakulam.
Police said the woman was allegedly lured with the promise of employment at spas. A woman was also part of the gang, according to the police. Police said that, as per the survivor’s statement, she became unconscious and realised the next morning that she had been sexually assaulted. City police commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar said the woman met the gang after responding to an advertisement on an online platform.
The accused allegedly gave her beer and narcotic substances before sexually assaulting her. The arrested men were remanded to judicial custody. They were arrested by a team led by Kalamassery inspector Abhilash A L, along with sub-inspectors Ram Lal and Binu V S, SCPO Libin Kumar, and officers Sijil Suresh and Aneesh. Police also recovered the vehicle allegedly used in the incident. The accused was produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.
One of the accused was running at least three spas, and searches were held in these establishments, police said. Police said more arrests are likely in the case and a detailed investigation is on into the racket.