
KOLLAM: Police suspect the one involved in sexual assaults while roaming on a scooter in both Kollam and Kochi may be the same individual. Investigators have obtained clear visuals of the suspect involved in an incident in Kochi and are trying to catch him as quickly as possible. Officials believe that questioning the suspect could help determine whether he is also responsible for the attacks reported in Kollam.
The suspect was identified after police examined more than 50 CCTV visuals. The incident in Kochi's Ayyappankavu area occurred about a month ago.
In Kollam, a series of sexual assaults have been reported across several rural police station limits. The unidentified man arrives on a scooter wearing a helmet and mask to conceal his identity, sexually assaults women and then quickly flees the place. He is believed to operate in areas with few houses and limited CCTV surveillance.
Incidents have been reported in locations including Chakkuvalli–Malanada Road in the Sooranad police station area, parts of Kizhakke Kallada Nilamel, and Thoppilkadavu in Padinjare Kallada. The suspect appears to specifically target girls walking alone. Police also suspect that the scooter's registration number is fake.
Cases registered in Kollam include charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and other relevant laws. Despite extensive investigations, police have not yet obtained a decisive lead to identify the suspect. For now, he is known mainly as the blue scooter rider. Authorities have also received information suggesting that he may have appeared in other parts of the district, but those inquiries have not yet yielded any breakthroughs.