SALEM: A woman sanitation worker and a man have been arrested on charges of sexually assaulting two minor girls staying at a girls’ hostel near Vazhapadi in Salem district after forcing them to consume alcohol. The sexual assault had gone on for five months till a 14-year-old Class X student lodged a complaint with the Vazhapadi all-women police on Monday.In her complaint, the girl stated that hostel sanitation worker Radhika, 42, had introduced her to Raghupathi, 35, of Pudupalayam village and facilitated sexual assault.Police conducted inquiries and came to know that Radhika was in an illicit relationship with Raghupathi. “She invited him into the hostel at night and later took two minor girls to him,” a police officer said. The girls had been forced to consume alcohol before being subjected to sexual assault, the officer added.Investigations revealed that the exploitation had continued for nearly five months. Medical examinations were conducted on the two girls.Police registered a case under sections 3, 7 and 9 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against Radhika and Raghupathi. Both were arrested on Tuesday night.
