4 minors arrested for gangrape of 13-year-old girl in Thirumangalam

Madurai: Four minors have been booked and arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act on Sunday for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in Thirumangalam. According to police sources, the victim, who was 20% mentally ill, is a resident of Thirumangalam, and in a relationship with a 16-year-old boy. A few weeks back, the boy and his three friends took her to an exhibition being held as a part of the temple festival. Later, the group took the girl to a nearby secluded area, where she was subjected to penetrative sexual assault. The survivor informed her parents, following which they lodged a complaint at the Thirumangalam all-women police station on Saturday. Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Pocso Act against four minors: three were aged 16 and one 13 years. The victim has been sent for medical examination. Police have arrested all four, and sent them to an observation home in Madurai.