Sexually harassed schoolgirl; private bus conductor arrested under POCSO Act

KOCHI: The Ernakulam North police have arrested a private bus conductor for allegedly sexually harassing a schoolgirl. The accused, Alan (23), a native of Ayyappankavu, was arrested under the POCSO Act. He was working as a conductor on the 'Venad' private bus operating on the Mattancherry-Cheranalloor route.

The accused allegedly made obscene remarks to the student and tried to physically assault her while she was travelling home after an examination. According to the police, he had been following and harassing the girl for nearly a month and had repeatedly attempted to assault her.

Unable to tolerate the harassment, the student approached the police and filed a complaint, following which the accused was arrested.

There are also reports that the accused had earlier attempted to sexually assault another girl on a bus in a similar manner. On that occasion, local residents had reportedly stopped him and assaulted him.