Siddarth Sethia
The Vishwanathapura police have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against a 46-year-old hostel head for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl at a hostel in Maragondanahalli village,near Devanahalli.
The accused has been identified as John Shamain, who is associated with the Divine Mercy Mamateya Kutumba hostel in Maragondanahalli.
According to the FIR registered on August 11,the girl had been staying at the hostel for about a year for her education.
The complaint was filed by her 23-year-old maternal aunt, who told police that the girl contacted her by phone on the morning of August 9 and appeared frightened.
The girl allegedly told her aunt that Shamain had been behaving inappropriately with her for around three months.
On August 8,at around 4.30 pm,he allegedly took her to a toilet,touched her private parts,hugged and kissed her and attempted to sexually assault her.
The girl reportedly told her aunt that she had earlier faced similar sexual misconduct on about five occasions.
According to the complaint,the girl became severely distressed following the incident and allegedly attempted to harm herself by going to the upper floor of the hostel.Another student reportedly intervened, counselled her and brought her back.
The girl’s aunt subsequently went to the hostel and attempted to contact Shamain.When she questioned him about the allegations,he allegedly became angry, abused her and questioned why she had come to the hostel without informing him.
The Vishwanathapura police have registered a case under Sections 4, 8 and 12 of the POCSO Act, along with Sections 319(2), 351(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and have taken up an investigation.
Police are expected to record the statements of the victim and other persons connected with the hostel as part of the investigation.
