In a shocking incident, a woman in Kerala was locked up in a flat, brutally assaulted, raped, and tortured by a youth for several months. After the woman lodged a complaint with the police, the accused identified as Martin Joseph Pulikottil, has gone into hiding. According to the complaint, Martin locked her up in an apartment in Kochi and tortured her for months during the last lockdown period.

The duo had been living together for about a year. But the woman complained that Martin had been harassing her constantly since last February. When she tried to get out of the flat, Martin locked her up. She suffered burns on the body and was made to drink urine. Martin had also shot a nude video of the woman. Even four months after filing the complaint, the police had not arrested the accused. Pictures of the woman with burn injuries have surfaced online and gone viral on the internet.

Horrified by the incident, the chairperson of the women's commission MC Josephine directed to arrest the accused as soon as possible The Kerala Women's Commission has condemned the delay in taking action by the Ernakulam Central Police.