Kollam: A rape-accused from Kollam was taken into custody at Riyad in Saudi Arabia with the help of Interpol which had issued a red corner notice against him. The accused Sunil Kumar, 38, from Oachira had allegedly raped a 13-year-old girl in 2017 and she later committed suicide in a women's home.
A team under Kollam police commissioner Merin Joseph has reached Riyad to bring the accused back in accordance with a pact signed in 2010 between India and Saudi Arabia to exchange criminals.
Sunil Kumar, who had been working in Saudi Arabia for the past several years, allegedly sexually assaulted the girl from Clappana during his visit to his house at Oachira. She was the daughter of his friend's brother. Sunil Kumar had established a relationship with the family and was a regular visitor to the house.
The incident came to light after the girl shared it with her classmates and eventually the class teacher. The Childline found the girl had undergone sexual assault several times in her house. The police identified Sunil Kumar as the culprit, but he fled to Saudi Arabia while the investigation was on.
The girl was later shifted to a women's home at Injavila, Karikkode. A few days later, she committed suicide by hanging along with her inmate on June 8, 2017. In a suicide note, she had mentioned that she was depressed to part with her mother.
The police could not nab the accused as he did not come home after the incident. The Interpol, which was contacted with the help of CBI, held him from his workplace. Police has charged IPC sections for rape, PoCSO and SC/ST atrocities Act. The culprit will be brought to Kollam on Wednesday.
