Coimbatore police draw flak for interrogating minor sexual abuse victim

COIMBATORE: Members of the All India Democratic Women Association (AIDWA) on Friday condemned the police officers, who conducted an inquiry with a four-year-old sexual abuse victim at the Thudiyalur police station, in violation of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
“As per the Act, children should neither be called for inquiry to police stations nor interrogated by uniformed police officers. But in this case, the norms were clearly violated,” vice-president of AIDWA U Vasuki said.

Police had arrested R Govindaraj, a van driver and his helper A Marimuthu, who were working at a private school on the outskirts of the city on February 1 for sexually abusing the victim inside the vehicle.

“We have been requesting police to include section 5(f) of POCSO Act that mandates 10 years imprisonment to the accused. But the officers have not done it so far. We are not satisfied with the way the city police have dealt the case. To reduce the violence against women and children, the superintendent of police should come forward to conduct interactive sessions between police officers and women activists where such issues could be discussed,” Vasuki said.

Monthly discussions between police and women activists were conducted in Chennai based on central government directions until a few years ago, she said. “Also, the district collector should ensure that internal complaints committee is formed for women employees to register complaints pertaining to sexual harassments at workplaces.”