Disturbing Allegations: Dalit Woman Accuses 64 Men of Sexual Abuse in Kerala

An 18-year-old Dalit woman from Kerala has accused 64 men of sexual abuse starting from the age of 13, prompting police action and highlighting ongoing caste-based violence in India.

In a shocking case from the southern Indian state of Kerala, an 18-year-old Dalit woman has come forward with allegations of sexual abuse involving 64 men over five years. The horrifying claims involve her being subjected to numerous assaults since she was just 13 years old. Police have arrested 28 individuals linked to the crimes, who are currently in custody without having issued any public statements.

According to law enforcement officials, the accused range in age from 17 to 47, including individuals from the woman’s neighborhood, her sports coaches, and friends of her father. The woman reported the abuse after counselors, part of a government outreach program, visited her home and first identified troubling signs.

The police have filed approximately 18 charges under various Indian laws, including the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which is designed to protect individuals from lower casts like Dalits. Additional cases have been lodged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, due to her being a minor at the time of the offenses, as noted by senior police official Nandakumar S.

Initial findings indicate that the abuse commenced when her neighbor allegedly molested her and captured explicit photographs. This egregious behavior reportedly resumed when she turned 16, leading to further exploitation where videos of the assaults were circulated among several men, prolonging the cycle of abuse.

The woman, a recognized athlete who participated in numerous sports camps, was said to have been gang-raped on three occasions during the alleged five-year ordeal. Notably, her attackers are said to have used her father's contact information to reach out to her, allowing her to store their numbers in her phone. The investigative team is currently utilizing this device to identify additional suspects.

The victim's family remained largely unaware of the continued assaults until recent intervention from the counseling team. Following her confession, she has been relocated to a shelter managed by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for her safety.

Her accusations have sent ripples of outrage across India, shining a spotlight on the deeply entrenched issues of caste-based violence and sexual assault. Authorities are preparing for the young woman to provide a full account of her ordeal to a female police officer, as investigations continue to unfold amidst this disturbing narrative.