Chennai, March 14 (BPNS)

The Tiruvannamalai police on Sunday arrested a person who is the warden of a Children’s home run with state government aid for sexually assaulting boys aged 14-16 who were inmates of the children’s home. The police acted after the boys called the childline seeking help and accusing the warden, Duraipandyan (36) of sexually assaulting them for the past three months.

The Children’s home which houses 80 children who are either orphans or from broken families is sustaining on the state government financial aid. The owner of the Children’s home, Sagairaj was also arrested by the police for failing to report the sexual abuse issue to the authorities and childline.

There are five such children’s homes with government support that is functioning in the Tiruvannamalai district.

A team of officials drawn from the District Child Protection Office (DCPO), Childline, and police officers conducted an inquiry and search at the Children’s home after the seven children called helpline no 1098.

On the basis of a  complaint by the Childline, Chetpet police registered a case under Sections 7,8, 19 (1) and 21 (2) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (Pocso) Act was charged against A. Duraipandian, the Children’s home warden. Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act and section 506 (1) of the IPC were also charged against him.

Legal Protection officer from the District Child Protection Office (DCPO), J. Chitra Priya in a statement said that the children were shifted to a reception centre for the time being.