Police in Kasaragod district, Kerala, have arrested nine individuals, including two government employees, for the alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old boy over a two-year period. The accused, aged between 25 and 51, reportedly befriended the minor through a mobile application for the LGBTQ community before subjecting him to repeated assaults at his home and locations in neighboring Kannur and Kozhikode districts. Authorities have registered 14 separate cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, based on the victim's detailed statement.

The horrific abuse came to light on Monday when the boy's mother unexpectedly encountered one of the perpetrators at their residence, prompting the man to flee. Upon confronting her son, she learned the extent of the exploitation, which had persisted since the boy was 14. She promptly contacted Childline, India's national helpline for children in distress, which alerted the local police. This swift intervention underscores the importance of accessible support systems for vulnerable minors, particularly in cases involving online grooming and exploitation.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police and four inspectors, has been formed to probe eight cases linked to incidents within Kasaragod. The remaining six cases have been handed over to authorities in Kozhikode and Kannur for jurisdiction-specific inquiries. Among the 14 accused, five remain at large, including a Railways employee, as police intensify efforts to apprehend them. The investigation is examining the role of the mobile app in facilitating the assaults, highlighting growing concerns over digital safety for LGBTQ youth in India.

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Kerala's progressive stance on LGBTQ rights, including the 2019 decriminalization of homosexuality via Section 377's repeal, contrasts sharply with this case, which exposes vulnerabilities in online spaces despite legal advancements. The POCSO Act, enacted in 2012 to safeguard children from sexual abuse, mandates stringent punishments, including life imprisonment for aggravated offenses. Child rights activists have called for enhanced monitoring of social apps and awareness campaigns to prevent such grooming. As the SIT delves deeper, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for robust protections amid evolving digital threats.

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