In a disturbing incident from Tamil Nadu, a 22-year-old college student has been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing eight schoolboys residing at a government-run Social Justice Hostel near Kangayam.
Hostel Assistant Accused of Sexual Abuse
The Kangayam all-women police team took S Aravind, 22, into custody on Saturday after investigations revealed he had been sexually harassing multiple minor students at the hostel where he was staying as an assistant to the warden. The accused, hailing from Kallakurichi district, was pursuing his education at a private college in Tirupur while residing at the Social Justice Hostel meant for government school students.
How the Harassment Came to Light
The shocking truth emerged during Children's Day celebrations on Friday when hostel students mustered courage to report the incidents to visiting Childline representatives. The children's complaints prompted immediate action, leading to a formal complaint being lodged with the Tirupur district child welfare officer.
Following the complaint, a joint team comprising child welfare officials and police personnel visited the hostel premises to conduct a thorough investigation. During their probe, eight students disclosed that they had been subjected to sexual harassment by Aravind.
Legal Action and Arrest
Based on the evidence gathered and statements recorded, the police registered a case against the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The stringent anti-child sexual abuse law was invoked given the severity of the allegations and the age of the victims.
Aravind was subsequently arrested on Saturday and produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody. The hostel accommodates approximately 40 schoolboys, though the investigation so far has identified eight victims.
The case has raised serious questions about the safety measures in place at government-run hostels and the effectiveness of monitoring systems meant to protect vulnerable children in institutional care.
