Five boys held for sexually assaulting minor girl in Chittoor district

The Palamaner sub-division police on Thursday took five minor boys into custody for their alleged sexual assault on a 12-year-old girl in Punganur. About 50 police personnel from Palamaner and Punganur were pressed into action to make the arrests from Wednesday midnight till the early hours of Thursday. A police picket is being posted in the town to avoid any untoward incident.

Deputy SP (Palamaner) K. Chowdeswari told The Hindu that the girl along with her mother had migrated to Punganur last year, after her father died. The girl reportedly developed friendship with a 15-year old boy, who allegedly showed some objectionable content to her on the mobile phone and reportedly started to exploit her sexually.

In the last four months, the girl was allegedly exploited by four more boys. “A few days ago a boy allegedly saw the girl in a compromising position with a boy, and reportedly informed the same to his brother. On Wednesday evening, the girl’s mother was informed about the incident,” the DSP said.

A fear-stricken girl then reportedly informed her mother about the happenings since four months and about the boys who were behind the assault. The girl’s mother with some elderly persons rushed to the police station in Punganur and lodged a complaint on Wednesday night. Ms. Chowdeswari, who was on bandobast duty at Kuppam Ganga jatara, rushed to Punganur, and formed a special team to nab the accused.

“It is not gang-rape, as the boys had committed the crime without the knowledge of the other. All the five were arrested under POCSO and Nirbhaya Acts and sent for remand, and would be lodged at juvenile homes. The girl has been sent for medical examination and steps are initiated for her rehabilitationIncidentally, the Hackathon Safety for Women programme is under way in the district,” the official said.