Nine class VIII students arrested for sexually harassing schoolboy in Thoothukudi
Nine Class VIII students in Thoothukudi, India, have been arrested under the POCSO Act for the repeated sexual harassment of a schoolmate. The students have been sent to a juvenile observation home following a complaint filed by the victim's parents.
Why it matters
This case highlights critical issues regarding child safety in schools and the enforcement of laws protecting minors from sexual abuse.
Nine Class VIII students of a government higher secondary school in a village in Thoothukudi district have been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on charges of sexually harassing a schoolmate.
While five of them were arrested on Tuesday (September 1, 2026), four others were arrested on Wednesday (September 2). The action followed a complaint lodged by the parents of the victim, also a Class VIII student, at the Vilathikulam All Women Police Station.
According to the police, the nine students had allegedly been repeatedly sexually harassing the victim since they were in Class VII. They had also allegedly threatened him with further harassment if he informed his parents or teachers about the incidents.
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