The police have registered two more cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against a husband and wife from Kuttiyadi who were recently arrested for their alleged involvement in sexually abusing minor children. According to police sources, there are now three complainants- two boys and a girl- who were allegedly drugged and sexually exploited by the two.

The incident came to light following the arrest of Ajnas, the prime suspect, based on a complaint filed by one of the survivors on June 8. Police sources said his wife Misriya was also found to have involvement in the incident in the follow-up investigation. After her arrest, two more teenagers came up with similar complaints of sexual assault, they said.

“We are going ahead with a comprehensive probe into the incident based on a few confidential statements that the two are suspected of exploiting more teenagers. The probe will be carried out in such a way to protect the identity of all the survivors,” said a police officer. He said the three minor children had already given their statements revealing the couple’s attempt to blackmail them using visuals of sexual exploitation.

Ajnas, the prime accused, was running a salon at Kuttiyadi where he allegedly established contacts with the teen boys. Police sources said his plan was to build a secret network of young drug pushers in the village area. Sexual exploitation was also a part of it, they said.

Meanwhile, one of the survivors recently revealed to the media that Ajnas had maintained close contact with some of the police officers in Kozhikode district.