Three men have been arrested in connection with five Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases relating to the alleged sexual abuse of a 17-year-old girl within the Bekal police station limits, the police said on Friday (July 3, 2026).

The arrests were made following an investigation launched on the basis of a complaint filed by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Those arrested were Noushad, 29, of Kurukkankunnu, Shareef, 40, of Perumbala, and Salih, 29, of Kottikkulam. They were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.

The police said the investigation revealed that the girl had been sexually abused by five different individuals on separate occasions over the past year.