25, Jan 2016

One accused allegedly recorded both assaults to blackmail victims
Written by Shaju Philip | Thiruvananthapuram | Published:January 25, 2016 1:54 am
Six youths and two minors were held over the weekend for alleged involvement in two different rape cases at a homestay in Fort Kochi.
Six youths and two minors were held over the weekend for alleged involvement in two different rape cases at a homestay in Fort Kochi, a tourist location in Kochi. In both incidents, the same person allegedly recorded the assaults on his cellphone to blackmail the victims.
The arrest of the six youths on Saturday brought out the second incident, which had taken place earlier this month. While going through the cellphone visuals of the gang-rape, the police found a video of another attack in which the minors were allegedly involved.
The arrested six were identified as E Christy, an employee at the homestay, and his friends Althaf, Ijaz, K Saju, A Appu and Afsal — all around 20 years and local residents.
According to police, the gangrape took place two months ago, when a youth and his friend had checked in at the homestay, Good Shepherd, in Fort Kochi. Around 10 pm the same day, homestay employee Christy reportedly called his five friends, and Ijaz approached the youth. He took his car on the pretext of getting dinner for the two.