The Saidapet police have detained three youngsters for sexually harassing two schoolboys – aged 11 and 12 – for nearly six months.
An awareness programme conducted in their school reportedly prompted the students to finally reveal their trauma.
On Monday morning, the school principal read out material on sexual harassment awareness to students during the assembly. He pointed out that like girls, young boys too could be subjected to sexual harassment and that the children should report such incidents to their parents or teachers.
Hearing this, two students approached their math teacher and told her that they were being sexually exploited by three youngsters. The teacher took them to the headmaster and he, in turn, called their parents and narrated the incident. “Three youngsters from Saidapet sexually assaulted the two boys on Saturdays and Sundays after showing them pornographic material. The three youth threatened to murder the boys’parents if they revealed details of the encounters to them. Frightened, the two bore the torture silently for nearly six months,” said a source.
Inquiry held
A well-wisher of one of the boys called up 1098, the Childline helpline number. Officials visited the school on Tuesday and conducted an inquiry. Following this, a complaint was lodged with the Saidapet police and the three were detained. “We are investigating the case,” said a senior police officer.
A teacher of a government school in Saidapet said that anti-social elements are a regular menace. “They jump into the campus and consume liquor. Police do not take any action. Besides, they lure students into consuming alcohol and smoking ganja,” the teacher added.
