Home / Crime and Justice / Survivor Discloses 11-Year-Old Abuse, Teacher Jailed
Survivor Discloses 11-Year-Old Abuse, Teacher Jailed
6 Mar
Summary
- A Kerala tuition teacher received 18 years of rigorous imprisonment.
- The conviction is for a POCSO Act case involving abuse from 2013-14.
- The survivor disclosed the abuse after 11 years, seeking therapy for depression.
A 57-year-old tuition teacher in Kerala, Subash Kumar, has been sentenced to 18 years of rigorous imprisonment. The conviction stems from a Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act case concerning abuse that took place in 2013-14. The survivor, who was a Dalit Class 5 student at the time, endured repeated sexual abuse but feared disclosing the trauma to her family.
The incident came to light in July 2024 when the survivor, now a medical student, sought therapy for depression. A doctor's advice prompted her to approach the police, leading to the registration of an FIR. She reported experiencing debilitating panic attacks and depression as a result of the trauma.
The fast-track court acknowledged the significant delay in reporting, attributing it to the victim's severe mental trauma, challenging home circumstances, and the societal stigma surrounding mental health. The court found the explanation for the delay to be valid and credible, ultimately not doubting the survivor's testimony.
