Kerala - Kollam   

Kottiyam sex-scandal victim found dead

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM, JAN. 31. Shiney, 14, the victim in the Kottiyam sex-scandal case, was found dead in her house at Kannanallur near here today. The police suspect that it is a murder. A dupatta strapped tightly around her neck had left bruises.

The body, which has been sent to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital for post-mortem, was first noticed by Shiney's maternal grandmother, Lily, when she returned home from work. On being alerted by neighbours, the police arrived on the scene.

The police said that Shiney made a phone call from a nearby telephone booth after 2 p.m. Her grandmother was back home by 3 p.m. Tracker dogs of the police were brought to the house. The Superintendent of Police, S. Sreejith, inspected the site and supervised the investigation. Forensic experts from Thiruvananthapuram also helped the investigation. The Kollam Deputy Superintendent of Police said that in addition to the investigation by the local police, the Crime Branch would also conduct an inquiry.

On May 1, 2004, the Chavara police took Shiney into custody at Shankaramangalam junction. The police had said that she was dropped there by two men who had abused her sexually the previous night. She was handed over to the Kottiyam police for interrogation.

In the investigations that followed, the police said, it was learnt that 24 men had sexually exploited her. Twenty persons arrested in this connection are out on bail. The case is still under investigation and the charge-sheet yet to be filed. Shiney had told the police that she was brought into the flesh trade by a woman who was her neighbour. The latter had offered her a chance to act in a television serial. Shiney's parents had separated. She was living with her mentally challenged mother under the care of Lily, a fish vendor.

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