2 held in separate Pocso cases

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Mannanthala police arrested a 49-year-old man on charges of sexually harassing his 11-year-old niece, on Saturday. The accused, a pharmacist, is the husband of the child’s maternal aunt.
According to police, the accused was like a guardian of the girl after her father died some time ago. He lived at Ulloor whereas the girl lived with her mother and brother under Mannanthala police station limits.
‘’The accused allegedly sexually harassed her by touching her inappropriately whenever he visited the girl’s house or vice-versa, said Mannanthala sub inspector J Rakesh.The girl had revealed the matter to a friend, who informed teachers. The teachers, in turn, had alerted Childline authorities, who initiated steps to register a case, the officer said.
The accused was charged under sections 7 and 8 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act that pertains to sexual assault by physical contact without penetration. He was produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody. The child was given counselling by Childline staff.
In another case, a man accused of sexually assaulting his minor daughter was arrested by Kallambalam Police on Friday.
The 11 year old was allegedly repeatedly raped by her father for the past few months, police said. “The 46-year-old man went absconding after the police registered a case against him. He was caught from his hideout in Malappuram district. The accused was an alcoholic. He used to rape his daughter when his wife left home for work,” Kallambalam sub-inspector P Abhilash said.
The girl had informed the issue to her neighbour, who in turn alerted her mother. The police registered the case two months ago based on the complaint filed by the mother. The accused was produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody.