Child welfare panel member booked for sexually assaulting girl in children’s home

Madurai: Madurai police have booked a child welfare committee (CWC) member under sections of the Pocso Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl at a childcare institution, officials said on Thursday.The accused, identified as Raja Sakthivel, a CWC member from Virudhunagar, is absconding. Police have launched a statewide search to trace him.Government sources said Sakthivel had earlier served as superintendent of the childcare institution in Madurai, where he was in charge of day-to-day monitoring. He was later appointed as a CWC member in Virudhunagar.Police sources said Sakthivel visited the institution last year and allegedly sexually assaulted the girl during the visit.The incident came to light earlier this week after the girl disclosed the abuse, following which a police complaint was lodged.Activists alleged that although background verification was carried out before his appointment during the previous regime, other considerations influenced the selection process.