Tamil Nadu

Held for sexually assaulting girl

TAMBARAM: The Pallikaranai police have arrested a 53-year-old man on charges of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl at an orphanage-cum-home for special children at Sithalapakkam near Tambaram.

The girl was rescued by volunteers of Childline near the orphanage on Thursday evening.

Police said C. Wilson has been running Karunai Illam for 13 years now and the home had 27 children, including orphans, physically challenged and special children.

The 12-year-old girl, hailing from Kallakurichi, was left at the home three years ago by relatives after her parents died. She was studying in Standard VII in a government school near the home.

On Thursday she was rescued by Childline volunteers, who also helped the girl in lodging a complaint at the Pallikaranai police station. Cases under Section 377 of Indian Penal Code (unnatural offence) and provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Harassment to Women Act were booked against Wilson, who was arrested and remanded to judicial custody, they said.

Childline volunteers told The Hindu that they received a call on their helpline (1098) about the girl being subjected to severe harassment.

They went to the spot and rescued the girl in the evening when she was returning home from school.

They recorded a statement from the girl that confirmed the complaint they received over phone.

They assisted the girl in filing a complaint at the Pallikaranai police station on Friday. After medical tests, she would be produced before the Child Welfare Committee.

The rescued girl did menial jobs, they alleged.

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