KANNUR: Police have taken into custody five more persons in connection with the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in a Parassinikkadavu lodge room. Police have recorded the arrest of five persons already taken into custody.

The arrested persons are lodge owner Pavithran, Mattool native Sandeep, Sreekantapuram natives Shamsuddhin, Shabeer and Naduvil native Ayub. Lodge owner Pavithran was arrested for providing accommodation to the culprits while the others are accused of rape. Vadakkachery native Vysakh, Thaliyil native Nikhil, Saleem and Mrudul from Anthoor, Nivin and Mattool resident Jithin is also in police custody.

According to the police, 19 accused are there in the case. A local leader is also there among five more persons now in custody. But the police were not ready to divulge the details of those in custody.

It was the girl’s father who first raped her two years ago, according to the victim’s statement given to the police.