400 CCTV cameras help Kerala Police catch schoolgirl stalker

Dubai: A 33-year-old man named Lijo Joseph has been arrested by the Kerala Police for allegedly stalking and assaulting schoolgirls in the Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts. The arrest came after a thorough investigation that involved analyzing hundreds of CCTV recordings and a crucial clue from a survivor. According to Malayala Manorama, Joseph runs a poultry shop in Neduvathoor and was apprehended by the Kollam Rural police along with the DANSAF team in Puthoor.

The police have registered multiple cases against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Investigators linked Joseph to around 12 incidents that occurred over several months in different parts of the two districts. It was reported that he used a blue scooter, often concealing its registration number with mud or bending the plate. Joseph was also known to wear a helmet and face mask, and reportedly used women's footwear to make identification more difficult. Following the alleged incidents, he would typically flee the scene via interior roads in the Kunnathur, Adoor, and Kottarakkara areas.

Despite extensive CCTV footage analysis, the investigation initially faced challenges due to the scooter's registration number and the rider's face being poorly visible. However, a survivor's resistance during an assault near the Kollam-Theni National Highway proved to be a turning point. The suspect was not wearing his mask during this incident, allowing the girl to observe his physical appearance and notice that he was chewing betel leaves.

These details, combined with other descriptions, aided investigators in narrowing down the suspect list.

The DANSAF team then compared these descriptions with the CCTV footage and checked information on similar scooters registered across different districts. After persistent surveillance and field investigations, police traced Joseph to Puthoor and made his arrest. The investigation is still ongoing, and the allegations against Joseph are yet to be tested in court.