TN govt bus driver held for sexually harassing girl

Tamil Nadu Government Bus Driver Arrested for Sexual Harassment of Young Girl

Bharatmorningnews.com – On Thursday, police announced the arrest of a 36-year-old government bus driver accused of sexually harassing a four-year-old girl near Coimbatore. The incident is said to have taken place on Tuesday, when the driver persuaded the child, who was playing on the road, to enter his residence.

The victim’s parents were informed after the child recounted the event, prompting them to file a complaint with the Perur All Women Police Station. A police official confirmed the station has registered a case against the driver, identified as Shankar, and initiated legal action under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.

Public Outcry and Opposition Criticism

Political leaders from opposing parties have voiced strong disapproval of the Tamil Nadu government’s handling of women’s safety. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with some accusing the TVK administration of neglecting child protection measures.

“It is highly condemnable that the societal perception of women as mothers, sisters, and daughters has eroded, allowing increasingly deviant behavior toward young children to escalate,” said former BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan in a social media post. She highlighted that the rise in sexual crimes under the current government indicates a failure in safeguarding female citizens.

Vanathi also called on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to ensure the Singappen Special Task Force functions effectively, urging stricter enforcement to eliminate sexual offenses against women and children.

“In an environment where law and order challenges persist, the security of children is increasingly in jeopardy,” remarked DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi in a statement. She emphasized the need for a comprehensive action plan to prevent such incidents and protect vulnerable groups.