OYUR: Four youths were arrested by Pooyappalli police for sexually abusing a plus one student who they met through Instagram. The arrested are Hriday (19) of Uthradam in Palangalam in Nallila, Rafeeq (22) of Kozhikal Puthenveettil Palangalam's Ambipoika, Jayakrishnan (21) of Jabi Nivas in Pallimon and Abhijith (21) of Devikripa in Nedumbana's Muttakkavu.

The group acquainted with the student four months ago. Hriday, who was the first to get close to the student, brought her in and sexually abused her when no one else was at home. He then handed over her phone number to friends. After befriending the student, they took her to Hriday's house and abused her.

On the 29th of last month, the girl told her family that she was going to her friend's house and would not return that day. Though she was asked by her parents to return home, she did not come. The family then lodged a complaint with the Pooyapalli police stating that the girl is missing. The police narrowed down the search to Varkala using tower location, but couldn't find her.

Hours later the tower location was shown as Muttara in Odanavattam. An investigation into the location found that the girl had returned home the next day. The incident came to light when the police counseled the girl at Childline.

The police arrested the accused after recording the girl's statement. They were arrested by SIs Rajan Babu and Santosh Kumar, ASIs Rajesh, Gopakumar, Anil Kumar and SCPO Liju Varghese.