7 minors among 9 held for sexual abuse of girl, 14

Trichy: Nine people including seven minors have been arrested under relevant sections of the Pocso act for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.

She had gone missing on May 14, after which her mother lodged a complaint with Palakkarai police. It was registered as a missing complaint initially. Once the girl was found on June 4, she was handed over to the child welfare committee, which provided counselling and put her in a home.

There, the girl complained to the officials about sexual abuse from people whom she had known through social media. Based on her statements, CWC reported it to the fort AWPS police after which the case was altered and the accused were booked under Pocso Act and nine arrested on Saturday.

Out of the 9, two are aged over 18 years. A Mohanraj, 19 , and M Kishore, 20, both from Sangillyandapuram. The other seven have been sent to a juvenile home in Thanjavur. Police are meanwhile searching for one more accused, who is on the run.