A 21-year-old Muslim auto-rickshaw driver from Mettupalayam has been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old schoolgirl who regularly traveled in his vehicle. The accused, who provided school transportation services in the area, is also accused of forcing the minor to undergo an abortion with the assistance of a female acquaintance.
The accused, Taufeeq Umar, a resident of Mettupalayam, had been operating auto-rickshaws for school pickups and drop-offs in the locality. Over the past year and a half, he reportedly developed a close relationship with the victim. He allegedly sexually exploited her multiple times, promising to marry her. Six months ago, the girl became pregnant, and the suspect, with the help of a 26-year-old woman, forced her to terminate the pregnancy.
The incident came to light recently when the girl’s family took her for a medical check-up. During this, the victim also disclosed to her parents that the accused had been blackmailing her using sensitive photos and videos. Following her complaint, the Mettupalayam All-Women Police arrested the auto-rickshaw driver Taufeeq Umar and charged him under the POCSO Act. He was remanded to judicial custody on 6 February 2025.
What made the case even more shocking was that, last November, Taufeeq’s mother, along with some activists (allegedly TMMK), held a protest in his support. They claimed that the police had wrongfully accused him of harassing an innocent young man at the police station. As a result of the protest, a police sub-inspector was transferred to the armed reserve. However, three months later, Taufeeq was arrested in a POCSO case, and it was discovered that he had been sexually harassing the student for over a year and a half.
மேட்டுப்பாளையம் பள்ளி
சிறுமியை வன்கொடுமை
செய்த #தௌபிக்உமர் இரண்டு மாதத்திற்கு
முன்பு வழக்கு ஒன்றில் இவனுக்கு ஆதரவாக
வந்த மேட்டுப்பாளையம் #தமுமுக பொய்யாக அளித்த புகாரின் பேரில் உதவி ஆய்வாளரை ஆயுதபடைக்கு
மாற்றியது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கதுhttps://t.co/sZMidI0vV3@hindumunnani_tn pic.twitter.com/JKn7DS4Yta— ஶ்ரீனிவாசன் (@Srinivasan790) February 7, 2025
Additionally, the police have registered a case against a 26-year-old woman, a former BSc Nursing student who had dropped out of her course. She allegedly assisted the accused in arranging the abortion. The woman, who had been using the suspect’s auto-rickshaw services for her children, is currently absconding. During the investigation, authorities seized two auto-rickshaws and mobile phones from the accused. Further investigations are ongoing.
(With inputs from TNIE)
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