DHARMAPURI: Instances of sexual abuse of minors by teachers are increasingly being reported from the district. On Friday, one person was arrested in one such case that took place two years ago. However, the incident came to light only on December 4 when the victim summoned the courage to lodge a complaint with the police. Investigators have so far arrested three persons, including the prime accused.
Superintendent of Police Bandi Gangadhar told Express that the 17-year-old girl had lodged a complaint with the Palacode police on December 4, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by S Sivakumar (26) when she was attending his tuition centre two years ago. He had also recorded the sexual act on his mobile handset. The phone recovered from the accused reportedly had recording of three such sexual acts, sources told Express.
S Sivakumar was running a tuition centre at Weavers Colony in Palacode. Three persons have been arrested in connection with the case. While the tuition master, Sivakumar (26), a resident of Ganapathykottai, and Eswaran (21), of Poovankottai, were arrested earlier, Sivakumar (27), of Seeriyampatti, was arrested on Friday.
Immediately after the girl’s complaint, the tuition master was arrested and remanded. He has been lodged in the Dharmapuri sub-jail. After investigations, his friend Eswaran was arrested on Tuesday and another friend M Sivakumar on Friday. The Pennagaram All Women Police found three videos of sexual acts in Sivakumar’s phone.
While in one of these, the victim was the complainant, the other girl was his relative. Meanwhile, rumours spread in the place that around 30 girls were sexually assaulted and videographed by Sivakumar. However, the SP denied this.