Idukki : Police have arrested the prime accused who had been absconding in connection with the suicide of a 16-year-old girl in Kumily, Idukki.
Another accused in the case, reportedly the girl’s male friend, was arrested on Aug 15 under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act in connection with alleged sexual abuse. The arrested person is the second husband of the girl’s mother. The stepfather was arrested by a police team led by Kumily SHO Jayan B, under the direction of Idukki SP A Naseem and Peerumade DSP Shiju P S. SI Anoop M G, SI Zubair and CPOs Shijumon T S and Salil Ravi were part of the team.
He was arrested from Pulleppady in Ernakulam on Tuesday and was produced before the Peermade court, which remanded him in judicial custody.
The girl was found dead inside her house on Aug 9. A detailed investigation, including an examination of her mobile phone, reportedly revealed that she was subjected to severe mental and physical harassment by the accused. The stepfather went into hiding after being named as an accused in the case. Following protests by the girl’s friends, locals and elected representatives, the police intensified the investigation. With the assistance of the cyber cell, the police tracked his location and took him into custody around 3am.