Thiruvananthapuram: A case of alleged sexual abuse involving a minor has brought back bad memories of the Suryanelli scandal in Kerala.
A decade after the Suryanelli case involving a minor, a class V student has complained of abuse by her step father and some friends of his residing in their neighbourhood in the Kilimanoor area here.
Police have arrested the girl's step-father K. Prasannan (45), and neighbours K. Bahuleyan (46), K. Mohammad Rashid (52), and V. Somadas (45).
The case came to light after the child opened up about her torment to a doctor who treated her after she collapsed in school and received medical attention.
Prasannan had reportedly been abusing the child for two years and one of the accused didn't spare the child's younger sister. The child had complained to her mother, but the woman's protests were silenced with dire threats.
Prasannan had married the child's mother after her husband's death eight years ago. Prasannan has a son from his first marriage, while the younger daughter was born after his second marriage.
Teachers, parent-teacher association officials and officials of Nagaroor panchayat complained to the police, prompting the arrests.
