72-year-old man arrested for sexual assault on Class VIII student; activist alleges delay in reporting the incident to the police by school

The Coimbatore District (Rural) Police connected Wednesday arrested a 72-year-old antheral connected the complaint of sexually assaulting a Class VIII pupil of a schoolhouse adjacent Mettupalayam.

Meanwhile, a societal activistic alleged that the schoolhouse authorities failed to study the incidental to the constabulary oregon Childline promptly, erstwhile the pupil shared her ordeal with her teachers connected Tuesday.

The constabulary said that the accused had been moving a stationery store adjacent to the school. The alleged intersexual battle took spot connected Tuesday morning, erstwhile the miss went to his store to acquisition a notebook.

The girl, aft fleeing from the perpetrator, rushed to her teachers and alerted them astir the incident. However, the headmistress allegedly contacted the girl’s parent and sent her home, alleged societal activistic S. Basha.

Mr. Basha said helium came to cognize astir the incidental from the idiosyncratic known to the girl’s household precocious connected Tuesday. He visited the household and assured assistance successful reaching retired to the police.

According to him, the schoolhouse teachers refused to travel the girl’s parent to the constabulary station, erstwhile she sought their assistance connected Tuesday.

“A fewer of them besides advised the parent to desist from lodging a complaint, stating that the lawsuit proceedings would impact the girl’s future,” Mr. Basha alleged.

The girl’s parent lodged a ailment with the All Women Police Station, Mettupalayam, connected Wednesday, based connected which a lawsuit was registered against the accused nether Section 5 (l) (whoever commits penetrative intersexual battle connected the kid much than erstwhile oregon repeatedly) and 10 (punishment for aggravated intersexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police K. Karthikeyan said the accused was arrested and remanded connected Wednesday.

R. Balamurali, Chief Educational Officer, Coimbatore, said the headmistress of the schoolhouse claimed to person informed the constabulary astir the incidental precocious connected Tuesday. He said allegations against the headmistress that the intersexual battle was not reported promptly would beryllium checked.