THALIPARAMBU: Police have filed a case against more than 20 persons under POCSO act for their alleged indulgence in gang-raping a 16-year-old girl in Parassinikkadavu lodge.

Police have got clear information about the accused after recording statements of the girl. Five persons are reportedly in custody. The accused are from Thaliparambu, Sreekantapuram, Kannur, Pazhayangadi and Valapattanam.

The recording of the statement extended from 9 am to 2:30 pm on Monday after which the girl was subjected to medical examination in Thaliparambu Government Taluk hospital. In the night, she was produced before Thaliparambu magistrate and her statements were recorded.

What led to arrest was a threatening phone call that reached the girl’s brother. The threat was that his sister’s naked video was with them and if they didn’t paid a ransom of Rs 50,000, they will circulate the video through social media.

As per the telephonic conversation, the brother who reached Shornnur in the night on November 27 was whisked away by a three-member gang in a Maruti Swift. When the gang showed him the video he picked up a quarrel with them. The three then beat him up and dropped him at Shornnur railway station.

The youth who reached his home town collected details from his sister and gave a complaint to Kannur woman cell CI. As the incident happened within Thaliparambu police station limit, the case was referred to Thaliparambu police.

In a tactful move made by DySP K V Venugopal, the accused were taken into custody from the premises of Kannur Railway station with the help of Cyber Cell. The police followed the Innova car of the accused and nabbed them from near Polaris hotel.