Days after a 35-year-old woman from Kerala's Kozhikode district approached the police with a complaint that she was raped by six men, the police are yet to arrest the accused.
According to a complaint filed by Ameena* at the Koduvally police station on April 25, a relative of her husband told her to come and drink tea with her, but instead took her to a lodge and raped her.
Koduvally Circle Inspector, who is in-charge of the investigation, told TNM that the first accused forced Ameena to drink alcohol.
"According to her complaint, he then called five others, who were his friends and Ameena's neighbours and they raped her. She has named all the accused and we have registered a case against them. They have been booked under section 376 D, punishment for gang rape. But we haven't been able to arrest them yet. They are all absconding," the CI said.
The incident happened on January 30 this year, but the accused had threatened Ameena, asking her to keep silent. However, she confided in her husband a few days ago, after which, the couple approached the police.
The police said that Ameena confided in her husband when some of the accused began to blackmail her, seeking sexual favours.
Although a few reports said that the accused had photographed the act, the police said that they are yet to look into it.
"For now, only section 376 D has been slapped on them. The woman, in her complaint did not say that the crime was photographed. Further details will emerge once we nab the accused," the CI said.
Ameena told Manorama News that the accused gave her a liquid to drink, claiming that it was coffee.
"But it was not coffee, it was liquor. When I refused to drink it, he threatened me using a knife," Ameena was quoted as saying.
*- Name changed.