An 18-year-old Dalit woman from the southern Indian state of Kerala has accused 64 men of sexually abusing her since she was 13 years old.

So far, police have arrested 28 people in connection with the case, all of whom have been detained and have not made any public statements.

Police told the BBC the defendants were aged between 17 and 47 and included the woman’s neighbours, sports coaches and friends of her father.

The woman reported the alleged abuse after a team of counselors working under a government program visited her home.

Police have registered around 18 cases under India’s various crime laws and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, a law aimed at preventing crimes against India’s lower castes and tribes.

Dalits are at the bottom of the Hindu caste system and face widespread discrimination in India despite laws protecting them.

Senior police officer Nandakumar S told BBC Hindi that since the abuse occurred when the woman was a minor, a case was also registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act.

More cases are expected to be registered in the coming days as the police are still investigating the matter. A team of 25 people has been formed.

The alleged abuse began when the girl was 13, police said. Her neighbor allegedly molested her and took sexually explicit photos of her, the News Minute website reported.

Her neighbor allegedly sexually abused her again when she was 16, recording a video of the abuse and sharing it with several others who continued to abuse the woman over the years.

A lawyer for the district’s Child Welfare Committee (CWC) chief told The Indian Express that the woman was an athlete and had participated in various sports camps, which could have led to further abuse.

Police said the woman was allegedly gang-raped three times in the past five years.

Her alleged abuser reportedly used her father’s phone number to contact her and the woman had their contact details stored on her phone. Police are currently using mobile phones to track the accused.

The woman’s family was reportedly unaware of the alleged abuse.

The matter came to light last month when a team of counselors visited the woman’s home. The counselor informed the CWC of the matter and asked the woman to appear before the committee along with her mother.

“She underwent counseling and opened up to a psychologist about the sexual abuse she suffered from the age of 13,” the CWC chief told The Indian Express.

He added that the woman had been transferred to a shelter associated with the CWC for her protection.

The woman’s accusation sent shockwaves across the country. She is expected to provide a detailed statement over the alleged abuse of a female police officer.

Additional reporting by Imran Qureshi, BBC Hindi