13-year-old sexually abused: CPM panchayat member and branch member arrested

KALLAMBALAM: Police have arrested Zafarullah (44), a member of the fourth ward of Navaikkulam Grama Panchayat and CPM Maruthikunnu branch secretary, and Shamir (32), a member of the party branch and his friend in connection with alleged sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl.

The case alleges that the couple took turns sexually abusing an eighth-grader by threatening to kill her for the past six months. Police said Shamir first molested the child and then Zafirullah abused her. The two met secretly on the top floor of the house. The family informed Childline after noticing abnormalities in the child's behavior. The rape incident surfaced in a counselling session that followed. The girl later testified before a juvenile magistrate. Subsequently, a team led by Pallikkal Inspector Anil Kumar, SI Sharalal, Grade SI Babu, ASI Anil Kumar, CPO Bijumon and Home Guard Sivasankara Pillai nabbed the accused who tried to go into hiding. The accused, who were produced in court, were remanded.