Chennai: Bank employee held under Pocso for abusing 2 minors

Chennai: A Madurai-based private bank employee was booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (Pocso) Act by Tambaram police for allegedly abusing two girls, on Sunday.

According to police, Xavier (33) of Madurai has been staying in Vengaivasal near Tambaram and working in a private bank at Guindy. He had gone to Vilupuram on Sunday morning and parked his two-wheeler at a friend’s house in Patel Nagar, Tambaram.

“He returned from Villupuram at around 6.30 pm and took his vehicle from the friend’s house. While returning home, Xavier noticed two girls playing on Mudichur-Tambaram Road. He stopped the bike and allegedly started a conversation with the girls,” the police said.  The eight-year-old and 10-year-old girls believed the man and replied to his queries. But Xavier allegedly took the girls to a dark and secluded place. He also said to have abused the girls, which led to them screaming.

Hearing the sound, some local residents rescued the girls and chased him. Xavier also tried to flee on his two-wheeler in vain. He was bashed up by residents before being handed over to Tambaram police.

Police registered a case against Xavier under Pocso Act and remanded him to judicial custody.

Meanwhile, police data transpires that the sexual offences against children have become prevalent in and around Chennai and police arrested as many as seven persons under Pocso Act, recently. On April 21, a priest named Udhayakumar (40) was arrested by the police for abusing a four-year-old girl in Choolaimedu. Sheik Habib (23) of Sembiam was arrested for molesting a 15-year-old neighbour girl on April 25.

Venkatesan (45) of Thazhambur was held for abusing a four-year-old relative girl on May 1 and ayurvedic doctor Radhakrishnan (59) was arrested for abusing a 15-year-old boy near Avadi on May 13. The police also had arrested Ashok Kumar (32) of Chengalpattu for molesting a 13-year-old girl, on May 18.