Stalkers attack girls’ parents in Kovai

The accused, identified as I Kamardheen, Muhammed Harshad, Muhammed Niyaz, Vasantha Kumar and Muhammed Sameer, all aged between 19 and 21, were into the habit of teasing school-going girls. They also used to record their activity and threaten the girls later, sources said.

“They initially started calling girls by names and would pass lewd comments. Over a period of time, their harassment grew further as the five men would block the way and grab the hands of the girls. They even forcefully kissed the girls while they were on their way to school at Gandhi Nagar near Anaimalai,” the police said.

The police also said the accused took photographs of their indecent acts and shared it on WhatsApp and Facebook. They also pressurised the girl into entering into a relationship with them.

Terrorised by the act of the five youth, the girls had reported the matter to their parents. The irate parents of some girls, accompanied by their relatives, then warned the five to mend their ways.

However, the five youth reportedly assaulted the parents of those girls and even issued death threats.

Based on the complaint by the parents of the victims, the Pollachi police registered a case and arrested five persons on various charges, including assault, issuing death threats, and also charged them under the women harassment Act. One of the accused, Muhammed Sameer, was also booked under POCSO Act.

The police have also seized five mobile phones from the youth and are scrutinising the content.

This incident of harassment targeting young girls comes amidst the scare of the Pollachi sex scandal that continues to linger fresh in the minds of the people.