Chennai: The police here have arrested three persons, including a senior citizen,under the Protection of Child from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, on charge of sexually abusing minor girls in three separate incidents.According to police sources, Devaraj (60), a resident of housing board in Srinivasapuram and a watchman there, was allegedly beaten up by the public and handed over to the police for molesting a nine-year-old girl.
Sources said a few children were playing with water. Devaraj, taking advantage of the situation, took one of the girls to his house under the pretext of helping her dry herself, and misbehaved with her.
As the girl looked dull, her parents made enquiries, following which she revealed the indecent behaviour of Devaraj. He is also alleged to have attempted to misbehave with a few other girls in the housing board quarters.
The parents questioned his behaviour and assaulted him causing injuries. Later, he was handed over to the Mylapore all women police station and booked under the Pocso Act.
In another incident, a middle-aged man was booked under Pocso Act on Monday, for allegedly flashing himself before minor girls.
According to police, Manikandan (34), resident of Kuppuswamy Street in Ramapuram, flashed before two minor girls aged five and six years. The girls were playing in the terrace when the incident happened.
The girls informed their parents who lodged a police complaint. On receiving the complaint, Ramapuram police made enquiries with the minor girl. Based on her confession, police arrested Manikandan under the Pocso Act, and later remanded him in judicial custody.
In another incident, the Tambaram all women police arrested a 20-year-old man for sexually harassing a minor girl in Selaiyur on Monday night.The accused was identified as Lakshman, a flower vendor and resident of Bharath Nagar in Selaiyur. He is also said to be a close acquaintance to the victim's family.
According to police, on Monday evening, the accused found the eight-year-old girl playing near her house and took to a secluded place under the pretext of getting her chocolates.
He then pushed her into a parked auto and allegedly molested her. Later that night, the girl complained to her mother about the man and the happenings.
The mother after confronting the man registered a complaint at the Tambaram all women police station. The police team arrested Lakshman under the Pocso Act and remanded him in judicial custody.
