Bangalore IT professional allegedly raped at Kerala resort, poor security says women's commission

The alleged rape took place at the Poovar Island resort, a star category property in the backwaters near Thiruvananthapuram, where the woman had reportedly come with 28 colleagues for an office tour.  

She told the police that she heard a knock on her door at around 2 am early Friday and within minutes, two men entered her room from glass doors facing her balcony and assaulted her.

One of the men allegedly held her down while the other raped her. She complained to the police at around 4:30 in the evening and told them that she could not see her attackers in the dark.

The police believe the suspects could be from within the resort, either staff or someone known to the woman.

An outsider was a remote possibility as the resort, which is far from the mainland, can only be reached by boats and there is no service after 8 pm.

All guests and staff are being questioned and their phone call records are being checked, say the police.

A Kerala Women's Commission team is also investigating the incident and has raised concerns about the lack of safety at the isolated resort.

Rosakutty Teacher, the chairperson of the commission, also noted that there weren't enough latches and bolts to secure guests. "Any strong man could enter easily," she said.

There were not enough CCTVs at the resort and a security team of seven personnel guards the resort, sprawled over 15 acres.

Four days after the incident, no arrests have been made. The woman has reportedly returned to Bangalore after recording her statement.