A three-year-old girl sustained severe injuries after being allegedly sexually assaulted and brutally attacked by a 17-year-old boy near Sirkazhi in Mayiladuthurai district on 24 February 2025 afternoon. The accused, who reportedly smashed the child’s head with a stone when she tried to resist, has been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The victim is currently undergoing treatment for critical injuries at JIPMER Hospital in Puducherry.
According to police sources, the suspect, a Class 8 dropout, visited the anganwadi center attended by his relative’s children and the victim on Monday afternoon. He lured the girl, who had stepped out of the center during lunch to relieve herself, to an isolated area behind the childcare facility. There, he allegedly sexually assaulted her. When the child attempted to resist and raise an alarm, the suspect grabbed a stone and smashed her face, causing severe injuries to her head and eyes.
Mayiladuthurai Superintendent of Police G. Stalin stated that the anganwadi staff, who noticed the child was missing, found her after hearing her cries. The suspect had fled the scene by then. The girl was initially rushed to Sirkazhi General Hospital but was later referred to JIPMER Hospital in Puducherry due to her critical condition.
The All Women Police Station in Sirkazhi registered a case under Sections 6 r/w 5(m), 5(r), and 9(i) of the POCSO Act, which include charges of aggravated penetrative sexual assault and attempt to murder. The accused was arrested shortly after the incident, produced before the Juvenile Justice Board in Mayiladuthurai, and remanded to custody. He has been sent to a minor observation home in Thanjavur. Further investigations are ongoing.
Collector’s Insensitive Remarks
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, particularly after Mayiladuthurai District Collector A. Mahabharathi made controversial and insensitive remarks during a training camp on child protection under the POCSO Act. The Collector stated, “The child has also misbehaved. If you notice, according to the report I received, the child spat on the boy’s face. That may be the reason. Therefore, we are forced to look at both sides. So what should we do about this? Prevention is better than cure. Parents should be made aware of teaching such things to their children.” His comments, blaming the three-year-old victim, have drawn severe criticism.
பாலியல் துன்புறுத்தல்..” – சிறுமி மீதும் தவறு உள்ளது..” – ஆட்சியர் சர்ச்சை பேச்சு..!#Mayiladuthurai #Collector #Harassmentcase #NewsTamil #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/ENOADS4PCV
— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) February 28, 2025
(With inputs from The New Indian Express)
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