THODUPUZHA: Six persons have been arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl for a year and a half. The girl, who hails from a poor family, was offered to many by a broker who promised her a job.

The girl is now five months pregnant. Broker Raghu (Baby-51) of Mangalath Veedu in Kumaramangalam, KSEB employee Valampillil Sajeev (55) from Vellaramkallu, Kallurkadu, Kottoor Thankachan (56) from Maniyadumpara in Ramapuram, Kottayam, Binu (43) of Pokkalathu Veedu in Valiyajaram, Thomas Chacko (27) of Pinakattu Veedu, Parappuzha, and John (50) of Maliyekkal Veedu in Perunthalmanna in Malappuram were arrested by the police. According to the girl, about 15 people, including the arrested, abused her.

The girl has been a victim of abuse since she was 15 years old. The girl has no father. Her mother was lying ill. Taking advantage of this, Raghu, a broker, approached the girl at the end of 2020 saying that he could get her a job. Believing this, the girl came to meet Thankachan with Raghu. He was the first to abuse the girl. Raghu then took a large sum of money and took the girl to several people. This continued until two months ago.

The girl was found to be pregnant when she arrived at the hospital due to abdominal pain. The hospital authorities then informed the childline workers and then the police took the girl's statement and arrested the accused. The accused were produced in court and remanded on POCSO charges. Thodupuzha DySP Jean Paul, CI VC Vishnukumar, SIs Krishnan Nair and Haridas, ASIs Shamsuddin, Najeeb, Nisar, Usha Devi, SCPO Bindu and CPO Neetu are conducting the probe.