Thiruvananthapuram: A series of child abuse cases that has rocked Kerala over the past few weeks, including the case of a Catholic priest at Kottiyoor in Kannur abusing and impregnating a 16-year-old schoolgirl, has led to calls for stricter social monitoring to protect children from sexual predators.
In the latest case, a man allegedly abused his own 10-year-old granddaughter.
The girl was found hanging from a window grill in her house on January 15 with both her legs touching the ground.
The incident happened at Kundara in Kollam district, underlining concerns that children may not be safe even in their own homes.
A post mortem report indicated she had been sexually abused.
The girl’s maternal grandfather, identified as Victor, has now been arrested by police.
The arrest came after the deceased child’s grandmother told police that the child and her mother had mentioned to her about her husband’s alleged deeds.
Victor has been charged with abetment of suicide. It is suspected Victor had been abusing his granddaughter for about a year. The deceased girl and her elder sister had complained to their grandmother about their grandfather.
The deceased girl’s father had been staying away from the family. The girl’s father alleged on Monday that he suspected that his daughter was murdered and that his father-in-law’s plan was to put the blame of the murder on him.
The child’s mother had initially been reluctant to cooperate with police in the investigation. However, after a round of counselling, the mother and grandmother opened up about the suspect, enabling police to take him into custody.
A circle inspector and sub-inspector who were involved in the investigation of the case, when the girl’s death was reported in January, have been suspended from service.
