Three boys held for sexually harassing five girls in Pollachi

The incident came to light during an annual health check-up for students at the Government Middle School in Pollachi. Doctors, while carrying out an examination, found injuries in their private parts, suggesting that they were subjected to sexual harassment. 

Acting on information from the doctors, officials of the Child Welfare Committee visited the school and held an inquiry with the affected girl students. They told the officials that they were subjected to sexual harassment by three boys known to them. 

Following a complaint at the Pollachi All Women’s Police station (AWPS), a police team led by inspectors Mahendran and Karpagam questioned the victims and teachers regarding the issue. 

Of the three boys, one was studying in Class 10 and two others had dropped out of school after Class 8 and were helping their daily wager parents at work. They had known the girls as they were all living in the same neighbourhood and were also said to be distant relatives to the family of victims. “Even the parents of the girls did not want to press any charges against the boys,” police said. But, the boys were arrested on Monday. 

However, police registered a case against the boys under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act and lodged them at the Observation Home in Lakshmi Mills. The girls were counselled by psychiatrists as the incident had left them traumatised.