KALPETTA, Kerala -- Five men have been detained for allegedly repeatedly raping seven minor girls over a period of two months at an orphanage in Kerala, police said on Tuesday.
The girls, all in the age group of 14-15 years, were staying at the orphanage at Muttil in Kalpetta in Wayanad district.
The incident came to light after one of the girls was seen coming out from a nearby shop in suspicious circumstances and was questioned by the orphanage staff, following which a complaint was lodged with the police, they said.
A probe has been launched into the case and five people have been arrested, a top police official said.
Any other information about the incident was not known immediately and police said more details would be shared as the probe progresses.
The incident comes close on the heels of a 16-year-old girl being allegedly raped by a church vicar at Kottiyoor in neighbouring Kannur district.
The girl gave birth to a baby boy on 7 February after which the priest was arrested. Seven other accused in the case, five of them nuns and a doctor, are still absconding.
Rare Photos Of Jayalalithaa You May Have Never Seen Before
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Open Image ModalJayalalithaa with former prime minister Indira Gandhi in New Delhi on 21 April 1984. (credit:Mint via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalJ Jayalalithaa in New Delhi on 9 April 1984. (credit:Mint via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalFile photo of Jayalalithaa, first female Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, attending an event in New Delhi. (credit:BCCL)
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Open Image ModalTamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa with former prime minister Narasimha Rao in New Delhi on 16 July 1991. (credit:Mint via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalJayalalithaa with BJP Leader LK Advani the at National Integration Council Meeting in New Delhi on 2 November 1991. (credit:Mint via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalAIADMK leader Jayalalithaa during press conference in New Delhi on 7 April 1989. (credit:Mint via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalJ Jayalalithaa with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in New Delhi on 6 April 1989. (credit:Mint via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalCongress president Sonia Gandhi welcoming AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa at her residence in New Delhi on 15 April 1999. (credit:Mint via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalJ Jayalalithaa with former prime minister Narasimha Rao in New Delhi on 16 July 1991. (credit:Mint via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalFormer defence minister Sharad Pawar and Jayalalithaa in New Delhi on 10 February 1992. (credit:BCCL)
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Open Image ModalJ Jayalalithaa with an infant in Chennai on 19 May 1995. (credit:Mint via Getty Images)
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Open Image ModalFormer prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa in New Delhi on 30 January 1999. (credit:Mint via Getty Images)