Disturbing Allegations: Dalit Woman Claims Abuse by 64 Men Over Five Years

An 18-year-old Dalit woman in India has come forward, alleging that she has been sexually assaulted by 64 different men since she was 13. The police have arrested 28 suspects including acquaintances and coaches. This case highlights ongoing issues of abuse within the Dalit community and raises significant public concern.

In a shocking case emerging from the southern state of Kerala, an 18-year-old Dalit woman has accused 64 men of sexual abuse that allegedly began when she was just 13 years old. The police have taken prompt action, arresting 28 individuals linked to the claims, although the men are currently in custody and have not yet issued any public statements.

The accused range in age from 17 to 47 and include the woman's neighbours, sports coaches, and friends of her father. Disturbingly, the allegations surfaced after a group of government-sponsored counsellors visited her home and reported their findings to the authorities.

Authorities have filed approximately 18 charges under various Indian criminal laws, as well as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which provides legal protection against crimes aimed at marginalized communities. Additional charges fall under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act due to the fact that the abuse occurred while the woman was still a minor, as confirmed by senior police official Nandakumar S.

The investigation reveals that the sexual abuse allegedly began with a neighbour who molested her and took lewd photographs, escalating to further incidents when she was 16, including video recordings which were reportedly shared. Police are looking into the possibility that her identity as a budding athlete, who attended numerous sports camps, may have heightened her vulnerability to such predatory actions.

According to sources, she was gang-raped three times in the last five years, while her abusers allegedly used her father’s phone number to contact her. The police are now analyzing her phone as part of their investigation, which is being handled by a specially formed 25-member task force.

The woman’s family was unaware of the abuse she endured, which only came to light during a recent visit from the counselling team. Following her revelations, she was relocated to a shelter run by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for her safety. The disturbing nature of these allegations has unsettled the nation, and she is expected to provide a complete statement to a female officer in the near future.