Krishnagiri District Collector C Dinesh Kumar dismissed rumours that an abortion was performed and said that she was not pregnant.
Three teachers from a government school in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district have been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old student on campus. The incident, which took place in early January, came to light only when school authorities visited the girl’s home to inquire about her prolonged absence.
According to police, the survivor had stopped attending classes in early January. When a team of teachers visited her home, she complained of ulcers.
On Monday, when the school headmistress and a teacher visited her home again, the girl disclosed that she had been sexually assaulted by three teachers in a school toilet between January 1 and 3. Her mother, accompanied by the headmistress and a teacher, approached the police and lodged a complaint, leading to the arrests.
Krishnagiri Superintendent of Police P Thangadurai said that the accused, aged 57, 48, and 37, were taken into custody and charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. They have also been suspended from service.
The survivor was taken to hospital for a medical examination and psychological counselling.
Krishnagiri District Collector C Dinesh Kumar dismissed rumours that an abortion was performed and said that she was not pregnant.
The incident has triggered protests in the area, with local residents and the girl’s relatives demanding strict action against the accused. On Wednesday, an angry crowd staged a road blockade outside the school. Police personnel were deployed to manage the situation, and authorities assured that legal action would be taken.
The incident has led to strong political reactions, with Opposition leaders blaming the state government for failing to protect students. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami criticised the DMK government, saying, “When I raised concerns about student safety in government schools, the government dismissed them. What will they say now?”
BJP state president K Annamalai linked the rise in sexual crimes to governance failures and pointed to a decline in arrests under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act as evidence of law enforcement lapses. AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran also cited other recent cases of sexual assault in Tamil Nadu and called for stricter monitoring in schools.
