3 arrested for allegedly raping Kerala nursing student in autorickshaw

Investigators tracked the mobile phone signals of the suspects which resulted in their arrest.

Three people have been arrested for allegedly raping a 19-year-old nursing student in an autorickshaw in Kerala's Varkala, near Thiruvananthapuram. The girl was admitted to the ICU of a private hospital and her condition is being monitored by a team of doctors, according to reports. Her condition was stated to be stable though she showed signs of epilepsy. According to reports, investigators tracked the mobile phone signals of the suspects which resulted in their arrest. A case under IPC 376 (2) (g) (gangrape) has been registered against the accused.

The victim was a second year nursing degree student at a college attached to a private hospital in Varkala. According to police, the girl accompanied her lover, identified as Shafeer alias Sujith, in an autorickshaw to Kollam on Tuesday morning. Shafeer befriended the girl by hiding his real identity. After spending time together, they returned. On the way, two friends of Shafeer, identified as Siju and Rashid boarded the autorickshaw.

Initially, Shafeer allegedly raped her inside the vehicle followed by Siju and Rasheed. Shafeer and Sujith got down from the vehicle on the way. When the autorickshaw reached Ayanthi near Varkala in the evening, the girl screamed for help. Subsequently, Rashid who was riding the autorickshaw, abandoned the vehicle and the girl and ran away.

Police sources said that a case was registered. Medical examination results to determine whether she was subjected to sexual intercourse are still pending.

The incident came days after the horrific rape and murder of a Dalit law student in Kerala's Perumbavoor.