Maternal uncle among 5 arrested for sexual abuse of girl

Coimbatore: Five persons, including the maternal uncle of a 13-year-old girl, were arrested today on charges of sexually abusing her during the last one month. The girl met the city Police Commissioner yesterday and lodged a complaint stating that her 55-year old maternal uncle, under whose care she has been left by her parents, and four others had allegedly sexually abused her.

They had threatened her of dire consequences if she revealed this to anyone, police said. In the complaint the girl said her uncle, a habitual drinker, sexually assaulted her a month ago and later allowed a 70-year-old neighbour to do the same in return for money. He then took her to Pollachi, where she was molested by two persons some days ago. A 19-year-old painter also held out threats to the girl and started sexually abusing her for the last few days, the complaint said. Unable to put up with the torture, the girl escaped under the pretext of going to school and lodged the police complaint last evening, based on which all the five were arrested. PTI