Kothamangalam sex scandal case: key accused held.

KOTHAMANGALAM: One of the key accused in the sexual harassment of a minor girl of Nellikkuzhi here, Bekkar, 27, of Moosarukudy was arrested from Neriamangalam in the wee hours of Monday. The police had issued a lookout notice against him on Sunday.

Bekkar, who had better access to the girl's family, had reportedly harassed her many times and took her to several persons. A wholesale fish merchant, Bekkar had contested in the last local body election at Nellikkuzhi panchayat representing the PDP, but lost.

The police also took two classmates of the victim for evidence collection on Monday.

Bekkar was produced before the Kothamangalam Judicial First Class Magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody.

Meanwhile, several organisations protested against the indifference of the police in investigating the case. Many said the police were aware of the details of the absconding culprits.

Hundreds of activities of the Kothamangalam Assembly constituency committee of the SDPI took out a march to the police station on Monday. They demanded immediate arrest of the accused. The march, which began from Thangalam Junction, was blocked by the police at Kuroor bridge. The activists staged a dharna which was inaugurated by district general secretary Roy Arackal.

The AllIndia Democratic Women's Association has decided to take out a police station march on Saturday.

The high school girl was being sexually harassed by several persons since 2009. Her father Muhammedali had allegedly presented her before others after accepting money. She was reportedly exploited often in cars and autorickshaws. On medical examination, she was found 6 months pregnant. The girl is now at the Children's Home in Kakkanad.KOTHAMANGALAM: One of the key accused in the sexual harassment of a minor girl of Nellikkuzhi here, Bekkar, 27, of Moosarukudy was arrested from Neriamangalam in the wee hours of Monday. The police had issued a lookout notice against him on Sunday.

Bekkar, who had better access to the girl's family, had reportedly harassed her many times and took her to several persons. A wholesale fish merchant, Bekkar had contested in the last local body election at Nellikkuzhi panchayat representing the PDP, but lost.

The police also took two classmates of the victim for evidence collection on Monday.

Bekkar was produced before the Kothamangalam Judicial First Class Magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody.

Meanwhile, several organisations protested against the indifference of the police in investigating the case. Many said the police were aware of the details of the absconding culprits.

Hundreds of activities of the Kothamangalam Assembly constituency committee of the SDPI took out a march to the police station on Monday. They demanded immediate arrest of the accused. The march, which began from Thangalam Junction, was blocked by the police at Kuroor bridge. The activists staged a dharna which was inaugurated by district general secretary Roy Arackal.

The AllIndia Democratic Women's Association has decided to take out a police station march on Saturday.

The high school girl was being sexually harassed by several persons since 2009. Her father Muhammedali had allegedly presented her before others after accepting money. She was reportedly exploited often in cars and autorickshaws. On medical examination, she was found 6 months pregnant. The girl is now at the Children's Home in Kakkanad.