HYDERABAD: A female worker in a govt hostel for girls in Manthani, Peddapalli district, and a man who took photographs of a Class X girl without her consent were arrested by the police. The incident took place at the SC Girls Hostel in Manthani town.
“We arrested the person who took the photographs. Today, we also arrested the female worker in the hostel. We are looking for a third person to whom the photograph was sent,” Manthani Circle Inspector Raju told TOI on Tuesday.
The girl’s mother, in a complaint to the police, alleged that her daughter’s photograph was taken by the cook against her consent. She alleged that her daughter was informed by the cook that if she performed a ritual, she would get money.
Manthani Inspector Raju said no nude videos of the girl were taken, as reported in the media. From questioning the cook in the hostel and speaking with those allegedly involved in the issue, a photograph of the girl was taken showing her palms. The cook reportedly told the girl that if her palm reading showed she could get money if a ritual was performed, she would be called again and sent her away.
The police said the photographer then sent the photograph to a third person. Police are on the lookout for him. A case was booked against the three persons under the POSCO Act.
The mother of the 15-year-old girl said the incident took place on November 18. When the cook mentioned the ritual to be performed if necessary, she asked the cook to talk to her mother about it. The girl then left the hostel for a relative’s house in Manthani town itself. The mother of the girl expressed apprehensions about the reasons why the photograph of her daughter was taken. She alleged that videos were also taken, but police, after a preliminary enquiry, found that only one photograph was taken in which the girl’s palm was seen.