THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The special police team probing the online sex scandal has come across certain pieces of evidence raising suspicion that the racket even trafficked women to Gulf countries. It has also come to light that there was rift among the gang members over sharing the funds raised through the flesh trade.
“Certain messages retrieved from the phones of the accused indicate that young women were trafficked to Gulf countries. But we are yet to get any strong evidence for this," police sources said.
During quizzing, key suspect in the flesh trade case Joshi, alias 'Achayan', and Abdul Khader, alias Akbar, stated that women were trapped into the racket by conducting bogus recruitment drives in the state.
Joshi's son, Joyce, who has absconded, also played a key role in this. However, there had been some rift between Joshi and Akbar recently over sharing the earnings.
Meanwhile, private bank employee Anoop who was held on the charges of aiding Joshi was let off after quizzing. Joshi was produced before a local court which remanded in police custody for 14 days.
The probe team plans to take the suspects to Ernakulam and Bengaluru in the coming days to collect evidence. "We are yet to decide whether they should be taken to Mumbai," police sources said.
Fear of stigma a boon for abusers
Although the arrest of Kiss of Love activists Rahul Pasupalan and Reshmi Nair has brought focus on trafficking children for the sex trade, fear of stigma discourages victims from complaining.
It often turns out to be a blessing for abusers. In most cases of young girls falling victim to sexual offences, the police was taking suo moto cases or on the complaints of others.
In the present case, the investigation was initiated on a complaint of Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, police sources said.
Commission member J. Sandhya said even without victims' statements the police could gathering sufficient evidence and take cases to their logical conclusion.
"We can't expect a woman victim, especially younger, to openly admit sexual harassment she suffered. It is the duty of the police to gather evidence," she said. But police says victims even deny it in the court.
"In many cases, the victims deposed in favour of the accused before the court fearing social stigma. It weakens the case," a senior officer said.
In the latest case involving minor victims, the police had recorded statements of the victims before a magistrate under CrPC 164 to plug such loopholes.
Social media authorities also respond quite swiftly in child pornography and paedophile cases. Facebook authorities provided the special team with crucial information here.
"Crime against children, especially trafficking, is a very serious international issue. Hence they promptly act on requests," said inspector general S. Sreejith, who is heading the present probe.
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