Photographer, 3 college students held for sexually abusing boys

The victims, Avinash (14) and Suresh (12) (names changed), were residents of Sriram Nagar, Kolathur and students of a Government High School in Lakshmipuram, Puzhal. They were friendly with Venkatesh (27) a photographer at a local studio, Vijay (18) a first year B.Com student, Venkatesh (21), a second year BBA student and Babu (18), a first year student of Chengalpattu law college, who also lived in the area. 

“The four men had been taking the boys to an overhead water tank where they would force the two boys to perform oral sex on them. It is a poorly lit area in Lakshmipuram and not easily noticeable. The boys were forced and threatened into performing the act,” a police official said. Police said that the four accused had been sexually abusing the boys for over a week and had even taken photographs of them during the act. The accused had also threatened to expose the photographs if the boys informed their parents or anyone else. 

“On Monday, when the accused called the boys to the water tank, the two refused to oblige. However, Venkatesh, the main accused, with the help of the three others started blackmailing the boys by showing them the pictures. It was then one of the boys reported the incident to his mother,” the police official added. Subsequently, a complaint was registered and the police arrested Venkatesh. At first, he denied the allegations but later confessed to the crime. Using him as bait, the police arrested the remaining three. The four have been booked under the POCSO Act 2012 and section 506 (ii) of IPC (punishment for criminal intimidation).