The public protest near the Kumarapalayam police station in Namakkal district on Monday.
Two minor girls were allegedly sexually assaulted in separate incidents in Kumarapalayam Taluk in Namakkal district Sunday evening, leading to the arrest of two elderly men under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.In the first incident, a three-year-old girl, who was playing near her house, was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 59-year-old man. After the child informed her parents about the incident, they lodged a complaint with the Kumarapalayam police. A case was registered under the POCSO Act and the accused was arrested on Monday (June 1).In another incident, a 12-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 62-year-old man who lured her with an ice cream on Sunday evening. The girl’s relatives traced the accused in the early hours of Monday, allegedly assaulted him and handed him over to the Kumarapalayam police. A case was registered under the POCSO Act, and the accused was admitted to the government hospital in Erode for treatment.Meanwhile, relatives of the three-year-old survivor and local residents gathered in front of the Kumarapalayam police station around 8.30 a.m. on Monday and demanded that the accused be handed over to them. They later blocked the road in front of the station. The protest continued for several hours despite police efforts to pacify the crowd.When the police attempted to shift the accused from the station in a police vehicle, some protesters allegedly tried to attack him and police personnel. Following this, the accused was taken back inside the station.Namakkal Superintendent of Police S. Vimala rushed to the spot and held talks with the protesters. After nearly eight hours, police escorted the accused from the station to the Kumarapalayam court, following which the crowd dispersed.In a press release, Namakkal District Collector L. Madhubalan said both accused had been arrested under the POCSO Act. The two children were admitted to the Kumarapalayam Government Hospital, and doctors said they were in a stable condition. Published - June 01, 2026 08:16 pm IST
