<p>Thiruvananthapuram: Around 20 people have so far been held in connection with the sexual assault of an 18-year-old Dalit girl in Kerala's Pathanamthitta. As many as 64 persons are accused of sexually assaulting the girl over the last five years.</p><p>According to local sources, those arrested includes two brothers, a class 11 student and one youth who was planning to get married to another girl next week.</p><p>A youth who befriended the girl when she was 13-years-old initially sexually abused her. He allegedly took her pictures and videos and shared it with his friends. Subsequently his friends also started sexually abusing her.</p><p>The accused also include sports trainers of the victim girl who is an athlete. One of the accused is already held in another sexual assault case. As many as seven cases have been registered in various police stations in the district so far.</p>.Tense atmosphere in Angamaly-Ernakulam archdiocese in Kerala following police action.<p>The girl's father is said to be an alcoholic and many of the accused contacted her through her father's mobile phone. </p><p>The National Women's Commission has sought a report from the state government on the incident. The Kerala Women's Commission has registered a suo motu case in the matter. </p><p>The incident came to light after the girl revealed the matter to a volunteer of a women empowerment agency. Subsequently the district child welfare committee took up the matter and reported it to the police. The girl was shifted to a care home.</p>
<p>Thiruvananthapuram: Around 20 people have so far been held in connection with the sexual assault of an 18-year-old Dalit girl in Kerala's Pathanamthitta. As many as 64 persons are accused of sexually assaulting the girl over the last five years.</p><p>According to local sources, those arrested includes two brothers, a class 11 student and one youth who was planning to get married to another girl next week.</p><p>A youth who befriended the girl when she was 13-years-old initially sexually abused her. He allegedly took her pictures and videos and shared it with his friends. Subsequently his friends also started sexually abusing her.</p><p>The accused also include sports trainers of the victim girl who is an athlete. One of the accused is already held in another sexual assault case. As many as seven cases have been registered in various police stations in the district so far.</p>.Tense atmosphere in Angamaly-Ernakulam archdiocese in Kerala following police action.<p>The girl's father is said to be an alcoholic and many of the accused contacted her through her father's mobile phone. </p><p>The National Women's Commission has sought a report from the state government on the incident. The Kerala Women's Commission has registered a suo motu case in the matter. </p><p>The incident came to light after the girl revealed the matter to a volunteer of a women empowerment agency. Subsequently the district child welfare committee took up the matter and reported it to the police. The girl was shifted to a care home.</p>