CHILDLINE 1098

9-year-old girl faced sexual assault, perpetrator arrested

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is a pressing human right issue and public health concern. Sexual violence takes place in all settings: at home, schools, child care institutions and in the community. But never did 10 years old Safina (name changed) thought she would be sexually assaulted in a theatre while watching a movie with her mother.

CHILDLINE Malappuram team, Kerala, was approached by a social worker who informed about a child sexual abuse incident happened in a cinema theatre and the incident was caught in the CCTV footage of the theatre.

CHILDLINE Co-ordinator directly went to the theatre management and enquired about the incident and video footage and suggested not to disclose the incident or CCTV video footage to anyone else other than Police to ensure confidentiality of the child.

After checking the CCTV video footage, CHILDLINE understood that the child and her mother had been sexually abused at the same time. The CCTV visuals showed that the accused was sexually abusing the girl throughout the duration of the movie without any objection from her own mother.

While checking the CCTV footage of car parking from the theatre, CHILDLINE got the car number of the accused and collected his address from the police contact.

As per the information, CHILDLINE submitted a mandatory report as per POCSO Act 2012 to the police station. CHILDLINE team followed up with the police for further case progress details at different intervals thereafter. The police did not even respond nor have registered an FIR.

After a few days of the incident, a News channel telecasted those CCTV footages blurred video and demanded legal action against the accused and against alleged police inaction. After the telecast police registered an FIR and a middle-aged man was taken into custody. On the same day police presented the child in front of Child Welfare Committee and the child was placed to shelter home. Police registered an FIR against the accused and arrested the child’s mother for the charges of abetting and not performing parental responsibility. The accused’s mother had confessed that the molestation had happened with her consent and revealed the suspect was the owner of the quarters where the mother and child lived on rent.

With great efforts from CHILDLINE, Safina is now safe in a shelter home and recovering well from her past conditions.

Disclaimer:  Names and details have been changed to maintain confidentiality as required.