College student arrested for sexually harassing eight schoolboys staying at TN govt-run Social Justice Hostel near Tirupur

COIMBATORE: A 22-year-old college student was arrested by the Kangayam all women police on Saturday for sexually harassing eight schoolboys staying at a Social Justice Hostel run by the Tamil Nadu govt.The arrested student has been identified as S Aravind, 22, of Kallakurichi district. He was studying at a private college in Tirupur and staying at a Social Justice Hostel for govt school students near Kangayam. He was staying there as an assistant to the hostel warden. Nearly 40 schoolboys were staying in the hostel, the police said.The sexual harassment came to light when the hostel students reported it to Childline representatives who visited the school for a Children's Day function on Friday. Following this, a complaint was lodged with the Tirupur district child welfare officer who, along with the police, visited the hostel and investigated.

During investigations, the students stated that the accused had been sexually harassing eight of them. The police registered a case against Aravind under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and arrested him on Saturday. He was remanded in judicial custody.