In a concerning incident in Kerala, a missing college student was discovered, allegedly kidnapped by her friend, in a troubling situation at a house near Kuttiady. 

The victim, a college student from Kozhikode, was reportedly ‘tied up’ and ‘undressed’ at the house of her friend in Kunduthode, Thottilpalam. The police were alerted to her plight by another friend whom she had reached out to for help to escape her captivity.

Tracing the student’s location through her mobile phone, the police took swift action, forcefully entering the building the the afternoon of 24th August. However, upon the arrival of the police, the accused fled the scene, leaving behind incriminating evidence, including MDMA.

Authorities suspect that the young man living alone in the house may be involved in drug-related activities, as his parents are residing abroad.

The circumstances leading up to the incident are troubling. The victim had arrived at the house of the accused, identified as Unnithankanty Junaid, without the knowledge of her parents or the hostel authorities. The police have expressed concerns that she may have been subjected to sexual assault and promptly sent her for a medical examination at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

During the police investigation, it was revealed that the victim had attempted to contact her friend while authorities were working diligently to trace her whereabouts. This operation was initiated following a complaint from hostel authorities, who reported her alleged abduction on Wednesday, August 23rd, by the accused.

Adding to the complexity of the case, it has been reported by OnManorama that the accused had thrown stones at the girl’s house, seemingly in retaliation against her family’s opposition to their ‘relationship.’ Additionally, it was reported that the accused had targeted the home of a local social worker in an apparent attempt to divert attention from the unfolding events.

These disturbing events bring into sharp focus the safety concerns for women in Kerala. According to statistics from the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), there were a total of 18,943 cases filed for crimes against women, and 5,315 cases were registered concerning crimes against children in the year 2022 in Kerala. Last year, the state recorded 4,586 cases under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. These numbers underscore the need for decisive action to address this issue and ensure the safety and security of women in Kerala. Critics question whether the government is doing enough to protect women and children in the state ruled by the Communist Party’s Pinarayi Vijayan.