COIMBATORE: The Perur All-Women Police (AWPS) in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, arrested An allopathic doctor on Friday, September 6, for allegedly sexually assaulting 12 girl students during a medical camp at a government school near Alandurai in Thondamuthur
The arrested doctor, identified as 33-year-old S Saravanamoorthy, was a native of Tirupattur district and was part of a mobile medical units team, operated by the Isha Foundation for conducting free medical camps for school students and general public across Coimbatore
The incident highlighted during a meeting between education officers and the students,conducted following orders from Chief Secretary N Muruganandam.
This meeting was part of a border investigation after four staff members of a government college in Valparai were recently arrested for sexually harassing students.
He had held a meeting through videoconferencing a few days ago after four staff members of Govt Arts and Science College in Valparai were arrested for sexually harassing girl students.
The meeting was held on Wednesday, September 4, During which around 12 girl students belonging to classes 6 to 10, raised complaints about how they were touched inappropriately by Saravanamoorthy during these camps.
Immediately after this, the school management reached out to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), who followed an inquiry with the students. Following this, the Perur All Women police were alerted.
The police officials visited the school and inquired with each of the survivors personally.
After recording their statements, they registered a case against the doctor under Section 9(e) (whoever being on the management or staff of a hospital, whether government or private, commits sexual assault on a child in that hospital) read with 10 (punishment for aggravated sexual assault) of Pocso Act.
The doctor was later arrested and has been remanded to judicial custody.
Following Incident , Isha Foundation put forward a statement stating that they are fully cooperating with the investigation and that they have a zero tolerance policy for crimes against women and children
It has been brought to our notice that a case has been registered against an employee who is a doctor with our outreach mobile medical services in the rural areas of Coimbatore. Isha holds a Zero Tolerance Policy for any crimes against women and children. We are cooperating with the ongoing police investigation and will take necessary actions by the legalIsha Foundation
Input from various sources
Rehash/Simran Sethi/MSM