Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 11: It has come to light that a youth committed sexual atrocity on five young girls in the guise of providing them dance training. The incident occurred at Ambedkar Colony at Porkody, Bajpe. The incident came into the open with inordinate delay.

Ravi alias Thoma (25), a resident of Porkody, stands arrested for this crime. It is gathered that since about a year, he was teaching dance moves to girls aged between 8 and 12 studying in the primary school in his colony. Sometimes the training sessions were held in his house, and sometimes in the open ground. It is said that when providing dance training, he took advantage of the innocence of the girls and sexually harassed them. Allegedly, he also coaxed some of the girls and raped them.

It is said that the above incidents occurred about a year back, and they remained under wraps. On Wednesday February 10, Mangalore Childline officials and other voluntary non-government organizations had visited the primary school stated above to provide information to children on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). After the resource persons finished their presentations, a girl student told them that she has faced a problem.

The resource persons called her separately and questioned her confidentially, encouraging her to come out with details. She told them that Ravi alias Thoma had raped her in the guise of teaching dance steps. She also gave details of other girls who faced this atrocity. Thereafter, information was given to parents, and parents filed complaint in Bajpe police station. Policemen led by station house officer, T D Nagaraj, arrested the accused on Wednesday and booked him under POCSO Act.