Yet another case of sexual assault of a minor boy was reported from Malappuram. Four prominent Islamists were arrested, including an Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader, a madrassa president, and a middleman. Media reports suggested that more arrests will follow in the coming days.
The victim is a 14-year-old boy. The incident happened at Karinkallathani near Perinthalmanna on the Malappuram Palakkad border. Manjeri police registered a case and arrested Koloth Najeeb, Kozhikattil Abubakar, Pakath Jaleel, and Kozhippen Ashraf.
Jaleel is a local leader of the IUML and an expatriate who works with religious institutions in gulf countries to collect donations. Najeeb is the Karinkallathani madrassa president, and Ashraf is the middleman who presented the young boy to the rest of the accused. Reports suggest that the minor boy was sexually assaulted brutally.
Ashraf has been abusing him for a long time. He charged vast amounts from his customers for raping young boys. How many young children have been groomed, raped, and traded by Ashraf is unknown. After the minor shared the rape details with his friends, the incident came to light.
Local police identified the lodge where the sexual assault took place. Police took the victim to KPM Tourist Home in Perinthalmanna and collected evidence. The victim’s parents, too, had their suspicions after the boy started reaching home late and brought money. The boy confessed to his parents about the sexual assault.
Initially, the victim named only Ashraf as the assailant. When the Childline workers counseled the minor, he revealed more names. Media reports suggested that others are involved in the racket, and more arrests will follow in the coming days.
Interestingly, local media failed to report the incident. There are allegations that both the ruling Marxists and the Congress leaders are trying hard to downplay the POCSO case. IUML is an ally of the Congress. It is suspected that child rapists distribute considerable amounts to keep their voices muted.
