Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Mar 9: In a shocking incident, it has been found that a petty shop keeper functioning near a school in Manjeshwar has sexually abused young girl students since the last several years, by offering the lure of sweets and money to them. A school official, who found money in the hands of a student recently, put probing questions to her, and came to know what was going on. Upon getting to know what the petty shopkeeper was up to, he alerted Childline officials, who instantly took up the case.

The childline officials visited the school in question, and recorded statements of about 20 girls, who were sexually abused by the shopkeeper. A report was prepared by evening on Tuesday, and handed over to the district superintendent of police for further action. These girls said that the shopkeeper, who initially offered sweets to them, invited them inside the shop, and after satiating his lust, paid them handsomely, before inviting them to come again. It is thought that many more young girls would also have become the victims of the desire of the said person. All the students are from fifth to seventh standard of a government upper primary school.

Childline district convener, Subin Karia, nodal counsellors, Siji M Georgde, and Madhuri, found that this man, aged around 50 years, had been using the students of this school to satiate his unnatural desire for sex, since the last two years. It is thought that he used young girls for the purpose, as he found it easy to entice them with sweets and money. Immediately after the details came out, the shopkeeper absconded from the town, and the parents, who were unaware of these developments, are worried about their children. A meeting of parents and teachers of the school is being held on Wednesday March 9, to discuss the issue.