The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Pathanamthitta serial sexual abuse case in Kerala involving a minor girl will initiate steps to issue a red-corner notice against one of the accused. He left the country even before the case was registered against him. The SIT is expediting steps to file the chargesheet and has already swooped down on 42 accused in the case.

DIG, Thiruvananthapuram range, S Ajeetha Beegum said that no incident is being left out and cases are being filed. “Our priority is on filing the chargesheet and we will take measures with the state home department and then with the CBI to issue a red corner notice against one of the accused. A lookout circular has already been issued against him,” said Ajeetha Beegum.

A red notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. It is based on an arrest warrant or court order issued by the judicial authorities in the requesting country. Red notices are published by International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) at the request of a member country, according to the website.

"Another youth in the accused list at Pathanamthitta station is also believed to have left the country. Passport details are being collected to verify his whereabouts," police said.

Police officials associated with the probe said that every detail being received from the survivor is being accounted for. “The survivor has shown exceptional resolve in recollecting names and incidents. She has been stable and cooperating with us,” an official said.

Timely action by police has led to the arrest of 42 accused so far. The list of accused includes 58. There is an unknown accused in the list and a case has been filed against him as well. Majority of the offenders are youths or minors, some of them were batch mates, colony residents and seniors to the survivor in her educational institution. One of the accused in the case is a 44-year-old man. Several of them are daily-wage labourers.

“We have been verifying the information being received from the survivor. Some of the accused went into hiding after news came out but we were able to track them down through coordinated operation,” a police official said.

The shocking case came to light after the survivor opened up about the sexual abuse stretching over five years to a community counsellor who in turn alerted the Child Welfare Committee, Pathanamthitta.