Payyannur: Contractor held in sexual assault case

The Payyannur Police on Tuesday arrested a small-time civil contractor in connection with the sexual assault of a 16-year-old schoolboy, who was trapped through Grindr, a dating app primarily used by the LGBTQ community. The accused has been identified as Gireesh, a resident of Korom village near Payyannur in Kannur district.

This latest arrest takes the total number of accused in custody to ten, out of the sixteen individuals charged in the case. The shocking details of the assault, which spanned multiple districts, have sparked outrage and raised concerns over child safety on social media apps.

Abuse across four districts

According to Kasaragod District Police Chief B. V. Vijaya Bharat Reddy, the boy was repeatedly assaulted over two years across Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Ernakulam districts. Police records show 16 separate cases and 16 accused.

Of these, ten cases were registered at Chandera Police Station in Kasaragod, while the others were spread across Payyannur Police Station, Kasaba Police Station in Kozhikode city, and Elamakkara Police Station in Kochi city limits.

Nine of the ten accused in Chandera jurisdiction have been arrested. Officers said that Sirajuddin Vadakumpad (46), Youth League General Secretary of Trikaripur Panchayat, who remains absconding, is expected to surrender soon.

Prominent accused among those held

The list of those arrested so far includes individuals from varied backgrounds:

  • Sainudeen V. K. (52), Assistant Education Officer of Bekal sub-district, now suspended.
  • Chitraraj Eravil (48), an RPF officer and state-level football coach.
  • Kunhahammed (55), Jamaat-e-Islami activist and brother of a CPM leader.
  • Sirajuddin Vadakumpad (46), Youth League leader, yet to surrender.
  • Several small business owners, including a light-and-sound operator.

Police said that one of the accused, T. Mohammed Afsal (23), introduced the boy to Grindr in 2023 and acted as a middleman, connecting him to other offenders.

Grindr account and investigation

Although Grindr requires users to be above 18, the boy reportedly created an account by misrepresenting his age. The company suspended the account after learning he was a minor.

The crime came to light when the boy’s mother noticed strangers contacting him and frequent unusual interactions on his phone. She reported the matter to police, who then alerted Childline. During counselling, the boy revealed that he had been assaulted over two years. Police also confirmed that several accused had given him money.

Legal action and charges

Following the arrests, the Directorate of General Education suspended Education Officer Sainudeen V. K. All accused were produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody.

The men face serious charges including penetrative sexual assault, aggravated assault, repeated sexual abuse, and enticing a child for pornographic purposes. They have been booked under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and multiple sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Wider concerns

The case has raised alarms about the misuse of social networking and dating apps, particularly by minors, and the lack of safeguards to prevent child exploitation. Police have urged parents to be vigilant about their children’s online activity.

Meanwhile, the search for the remaining accused continues, with law enforcement coordinating across districts to ensure swift justice.