Three out of nine minors were held for sexually assaulting two girls in Tamil Nadu

TIRUPPUR: Nine people, including three minor boys, were arrested in Udumalaipet on Sunday evening for allegedly sexually assaulting and threatening two minor girls, including a Dalit, for several months. The incident came to light when one of the victims became pregnant and informed her grandmother.

According to sources, a 17-year-old girl was living with her grandmother in Udumalaipet after her foster parents died a few years ago. The girl was a tenth grade dropout. She became friends with a 13-year-old girl from the neighborhood. The 17-year-old met a 14-year-old boy who used to work as an assistant in a grocery store in Udumalaipet.

The boy is said to have sexually abused her and offered her money. He then sent her to another youth who worked as a day laborer and said he would help her. The daily bet promised the girl a job, took her to a secluded place and sexually abused her. He threatened the girl and informed his friends. The older girl introduced the 13-year-old to the gang and she was sexually harassed.

The 17-year-old girl was unable to express her problems and suffered in silence for several months. Recently, the girl realized that she was pregnant and informed her grandmother. She also talked about the 13-year-old and the sexual abuse she was subjected to. On May 11, the grandmother took the girls to the All Women Police Station (AWPS) Udumalaipet. During the investigation, the girls gave the names of nine suspects, including three underage boys. A case was registered under the POCSO Act and all were arrested. The three underage boys were brought before the juvenile court and sent to a rehabilitation home.

Meanwhile, parents of some youths staged a protest outside the All Women Police Station on Sunday evening, claiming that the youths were innocent. They also claimed that they were casteist but the police pacified them.

Speaking to TNIE, a senior police officer said, “There is no caste aspect. Since the 17-year-old girl was a foster child, we could not identify the caste. We check your 10th exam result or your transfer certificate. The 13-year-old girl belongs to the SC community. Two suspects belong to the SC community. Therefore, we have excluded the caste aspect.”