VILLUPURAM/RAMNAD/COIMBATORE/NAGAPATTINAM : Child predators are virtually on the prowl in Tamil Nadu. Four minor girls fell victims to sexual assaults in different parts of the State in a gap of 24 hours since Christmas.
In the first incident, a 17-year-old girl was raped by three tipsy youth when she was grazing cattle at Thenkeeranur village near Kallakurichi. According to police, the youth were consuming alcohol on a farmland and noticed Rani (name changed) grazing cattle nearby. In an inebriated condition, the three youth dragged Rani to the deserted spot and raped her and fled the scene. Rani reached home and reported the incident to her father Murugan who informed the police.
Based on a complaint, Kallakurichi police arrested and remanded two of the three youth, all hailing from the same village, in the wee hours of Saturday. They were identified as Mariyapillai (25) and Kaviarasan (23). A hunt is on to nab the third accused, Bakiya Raj (23).
Meanwhile, a 14-year-old boy was arrested at Sitharkottai in Ramanathapuram on charges of sexually assaulting a girl studying in Class Two. The seven-year-old victim was returning home from a grocery shop at 9 pm when the boy, residing in the same area, on the pretext of leading the child to her house, took her to a secluded place and allegedly molested her before fleeing the spot.
The child reported the incident to her parents. Based on a complaint, a case was registered under section 4 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and the boy was arrested.
In the third incident, a 23-year-old man was detained for assaulting a 12-year-old girl staying alone in her residence at Velipalayam in Nagapattinam. Police said the accused, under the influence of alcohol, had made sexual advances. The man, identified as Ramarajan (23) entered the house of the home-alone girl, studying in class VI, taking advantage of the absence of adults at home.
The victim raised an alarm which attracted the locals who rushed inside and caught Ramarajan. On information, police reached the spot and detained him. A case was registered.
A 31-year-old man was arrested for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl at Sethumdai in Coimbatore on Friday. According to police, the victim was playing with her younger brother in their house on Christmas evening, “Subramanian created a drama by telling her that her parents were tied up in the farm by the owner”, police said adding that the accused was working along with the girl’s parents as daily wage labourer.
After asking the girl’s younger brother to stay at home, the accused took her to a secluded place and misbehaved with her. “Later, the girl arrived home and conveyed that Subramanian had harassed her by hugging and touching her private parts.” police said. Subramanian was subsequently arrested.