Man arrested for sexually harassing minor girl near Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: The Kovilpalayam police in Coimbatore district have arrested a 21-year-old man for sexually harassing a 13-year-old girl.
The arrested man has been identified as R Maheswaran, 21, of Kulathur in Pudukottai. He was working in a bakery at Kovilpalayam.
Police said the Class VIII girl used to wait at Kovilpalayam bus stand to board a bus to return to her home after school. Maheswaran befriended the girl ten days ago and managed to get her mobile number. He often expressed his love to the minor girl. She replied that she didn’t have any idea about love and that she was focusing on her studies.
However, he followed her and made phone calls to her, sent text messages often and harassed her. She informed her parents on Wednesday evening. The parents took the minor girl to Kovilpalayam police station.
Based on the minor girl’s complaint, the police registered a case against Maheswaran under sections 11 (1) (iv) (sexual harassment -repeatedly or constantly follows or watches or contacts a child either directly or through electronic, digital or any other means) and 12 (punishment for sexual harassment) of the Protection of Children from the Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
He was remanded in judicial custody.