After 20 days in hiding, CPI (M) leader surrenders in Kochi child sexual abuse case

Locals and activists had been protesting against police’s laxity in arresting him.

news Child Abuse

The local CPI (M) leader who allegedly sexually abused an eight-year-old girl surrendered before Ernakulam Central Police on Tuesday evening.

Shagi, 43, of Vallarpadam, a former CPI (M) branch secretary, had been absconding after the incident on February 1.

Locals and activists had been protesting against police’s laxity in arresting him.

Accusing the police of delaying the arrest, activists in Kochi conducted a march towards Mulavukad police station on Saturday. But instead of promising action, the police resorted to lathi-charge to quell the protest.

Though Shagi had allegedly abused the victim many times before, it was only on February 1 that the incident came to light.

“The accused used to come to our house along with his son, who is the same age as my daughter. His son also studies in her class. He used to go to the school to drop him. On February 1, he went to the school to drop his son and there, he harassed my daughter,” the survivor’s father had told The News Minute earlier.

“He offered to let her play video games on his phone and abused her. Some of her classmates saw this and they complained to the teacher. The students also went back home and told their parents what they witnessed,” he added.

Read: Man accused of sexually abusing 8-year-old in Kochi absconding, did police delay arrest?

For 20 days, Shagi along with his family had been absconding. Shagi’s wife who had a job in a cooperative bank in Vallarpadam, had also resigned from the job after the incident.

Ernakulam Central circle inspector Ananthalal told TNM that he has been booked under POCSO and the arrest has been registered. The police are questioning him for further details.