The National Commission for Scheduled Castes Assistant Director, P. Ramasamy, said that severe punishment should be given to the accused in the sexual harassment of a minor girl in Natham block here.
Talking to press persons after interacting with the affected girl and doctors at the Dindigul Government Hospital on Friday, he said that it was confirmed that there was an attempt to sexually assault the girl. “The commission will take steps to strengthen laws on sexual harassment of girl children and women,” he said.
Already, the police had registered cases under Sections 376 and 325 of IPC against the accused Ragupathi (73) of Sanarpatti. He said that the girl was mentally and physically affected. It would take much time for her to come out of the trauma.
He also inquired whether the GH provided any counsellor to the girl. Doctors told him that they would provide a counsellor immediately. He also pointed out that steps would be taken to display sign boards containing all information, including telephone number and contact address of the commission, in all government offices to enable public lodge complaints on harassment of women. He handed over a solatium of Rs.1.8 lakh to the affected girl from the Department of Adi-Dravidar Welfare.
The public may contact him by dialling 88709 73558 or 044 2827 6430 2827 1546 to pass on information about such incidents for quick action.
The Assistant Director inspected the village and interacted with local people and also family members of the affected girl. Palanisamy of Nadumandalam village in Natham block had complained to the police that landlord Ragupathi sexually harassed the 11-year-old girl on January 29.
