A Long, Terrifying Silence

Police in the southern Indian state of Kerala began a broad investigation this week after an 18-year-old woman accused 64 men of sexually abusing her since she was 13, a case that has sent shockwaves across India, the BBC reported.

The woman first reported the alleged abuse after counselors from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) visited her house following concerns by her teachers.

She told the CWC that the abuse started five years ago when her neighbor allegedly molested her and took sexually explicit pictures of her.

The accused include neighbors, sports coaches, and her father’s friends, aged between 17 and 47 years old. CWC representatives and police added that the victim was an athlete and attended various sports camps.

Her family was reportedly unaware of the abuse, the BBC noted.

So far, authorities have arrested 28 people in connection with the case, including four minors, according to India Today. They have also set up a special investigative team to look into the other alleged perpetrators.

Authorities have identified 40 individuals they say may be involved, Hindustan Times wrote.

Officials said some of the perpetrators will be prosecuted under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act because the woman belongs to the Dalit caste.

In the Hindu caste hierarchy, Dalits are considered the lowest members of society and face widespread discrimination despite laws to protect them.

India continues to grapple with sexual violence, especially after high-profile cases in the past 15 years that have brought thousands of demonstrators onto the streets.

In 2019, over 32,000 rape cases were reported, with nearly 3,500 of these involving Dalit women and girls, according to Equality Now. Survivors from these communities encounter barriers such as police bias, inadequate legal aid, and societal pressure to remain silent.