Ex-serviceman-turned-astrologer arrested for sexual assault on Dalit minor girl in Kottayam
28 July 2023, 03:36 PM IST
Kottayam: Police on Friday arrested an astrologer for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Vaikom.
TV Puram native Sudharshan (55), an ex-serviceman, was arrested in an incident that happened on November 2022. The minor girl, belonging to a Dalit community, was allegedly subjected to sexual assault multiple times by the accused, police said.
After the alleged act came out, the accused issued death threats to the survivor and her family. He allegedly threatened to release her photos and videos. The girl later reported the incident to her friends and class teacher. Following this, the school authority informed the Vaikom police and the Directorate of SC Development Department.
On July 12, the police recorded the survivor’s statement and registered a case. Following this, the accused went into hiding. Later, the accused’s family came out to accuse the police of failing to catch him and of attempting to help him escape.
