Assault on women in Kaloor: Two more arrested

Kochi: City police investigating the attack on two women in Kaloor by a 10-member gang arrested two more accused in the case on Sunday.

Arrested persons have been identified as Thasni Sherin T, 21, and Thasni A K, 22, both hailing from Ponnani, Malappuram. The prime accused, Akbar Ali, 30, was arrested in the case on Saturday. The women were arrested from their hideout in Edappal, Palakkad. This brings the total number of arrests in the case to six. The brutal attack was triggered when the victims questioned their offensive remarks and obscene gestures.

Police said the arrested women are friends of the main accused, Ali of Mannarkkad in Palakkad. After detailed questioning of Ali, Sherin and Thasni, they were produced before court and remanded. Information about the women’s hideout emerged during Ali’s interrogation. A special investigation team led by Ernakulam North SHO nabbed the accused. The women were attacked in Kaloor around 4.30am on Tuesday.

Ali was arrested in a separate case on Sunday under Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act after police received information that he was running a brothel out of a lodge. He was caught from Cherpulassery in Palakkad on Saturday. The lodge he rented has been sealed by police. His arrest was recorded in the case concerning the assault on the young women in Kochi on Saturday night itself. Police said Ali would soon be sought in custody for further interrogation.

Police said efforts are on to track down the remaining accused who are in hiding. The victims were young women from Palakkad and Kozhikode who were staying in Kaloor to study for govt recruitment exams.

The gang encountered them near a tea stall and reportedly questioned why they were out so early. The accused then made obscene gestures at the women.

When questioned, an argument ensued, and as the complainant began recording the incident on her mobile phone, Ali snatched the phone, smashed it and assaulted the girl.

Police suspect he was under the influence of intoxicants at the time of the attack and senior officers said this aspect too will be investigated.