Kazhakkoottam molestation case: Local native's statement that led to Benjamin's arrest; big win for investigation team

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Police's investigative excellence came in handy to nab the perpetrator behind the Kazhakkoottam molestation case. The intensive efforts of the station police and the City DANSAF team led to the arrest of Benjamin, a native of Madurai, from Tamil Nadu. The incident took place at 2 am on Friday. The accused had left the spot in a vehicle immediately after the crime. The incident was reported to the police only the next morning.

Based on the statement of the victim, the police did not get any clue about the accused. Meanwhile, the other roommates who had returned from night duty the same day confessed to spotting the accused but lacked clarity to confirm. During the expert investigation conducted in the hostel and its surroundings, a deep footprint was found behind the hostel. The marks were deep, like those left when jumping from a height. When the nearby CCTV was checked, a person was seen jumping off the wall from behind at 3.15 am. Then, all the nearby CCTVs were checked. The police did not get anything essential other than a person hiding his face.

The accused could not be tracked down near the Kazhakkoottam flyover. The DANSAF team reached the place where the accused disappeared and conducted an investigation. A local resident in that place gave a statement that he spotted a lorry being stopped in the area, which was unusual. He also confessed to hearing a loud noise of doors being closed in the lorry. This statement single-handedly helped the police change the phase of the investigation.

The investigation on the lorry found that the accused had indeed escaped in it. Subsequent investigation revealed that the lorry had reached Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The special investigation team located the lorry with the help of the Madurai police and the Secret Investigation Department and reached Madurai. Upon spotting police, Benjamin went to hide in the bushes and later tried to escape. The DANSAF police team chased and caught him.

Benjamin, a truck driver and a native of Madurai, is accused in several cases, including attempted murder, harassment, and theft. The woman who was molested identified Benjamin during the identification parade held yesterday. The Kazhakkoottam police will file a custody application today for further questioning of the accused, who is in remand. DCP Farash told the media that the accused has confessed to the crime. The help of Madurai and Dindigul police will also be sought in collecting information.

Police said that the accused had attempted to rob three nearby houses before attacking the IT professional. He entered the hostel by taking an umbrella from one house and hiding his face to avoid appearing on the CCTV. He had taken a hat and headphones from two other houses. It is believed that he committed the crimes after parking the truck near Kazhakkoottam.

It is usual of Benjamin to target those women sleeping on streets. Many won’t complain, which led him to continue his crimes with impunity. Police are suspicious of Benjamin’s involvement in recent robberies in Kazhakkoottam.

City Police Commissioner Thomson Jose and DCP Farash coordinated the investigation. A 20-member team led by Kazhakoottam Cyber ​​City ACP Anil Kumar, including JS Praveen, Binu, Umesh, and DANSAF SIs Mithun, Vinod, Vineeth, and Vysakh, arrested the accused.

No constructive steps have been taken so far for the safety of women traveling in the IT City in Thiruvananthapuram. Hundreds of women travel at night to their homes after completing their shifts. Many need to travel alone during this late hour. There is a need to make the police check effective in this region during night hours.