Police have detained three men suspected of raping a nursing student at Varkala, sources said on Thursday.
While the third suspect Rashid was picked up from Pallickal near Kallambalam on Thursday morning, the prime and second suspects, Sahir and Shyju, respectively, were held from Ernakulam district in the evening. Their arrests would be recorded on Friday.
Sources said investigators tracked the mobile phone signals of the suspects to detain them. A police team was on the trail of Sahir and Shyju since Wednesday.
It has been alleged that the trio raped the 19-year-old girl in an autorickshaw after parking it at a secluded place in Varkala on Tuesday. Sahir allegedly faked love to trap the girl.
Sources said Sahir received the girl, who reached Varkala railway station from her residence in the state capital, and took her in his friend Shyju’s autorickshaw. They roamed around in Kollam, and in the afternoon returned to Varkala, where they committed the crime.
Rashid joined his friends while they were returning from Kollam.
The incident came to light after girl screamed for help while Rashid was taking her to Attingal. On seeing local residents responding to her cries, Rashid fled.
Locals shifted the girl, who appeared to be suffering from a bout of epileptic fit, to a hospital.
