Apr 9, 2019, 2:02 PM IST
Kannur: Kerala police filed a case against former CPM branch secretary for trying to sexually abuse an Adivasi minor girl. The accused is identified as Mahesh Panicker of Cheruvancheri. He has been charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after the minor girl complained about the incident.
According to sources, Mahesh is also a priest and performs pujas at a temple. The incident allegedly occurred when he was conducting a puja at the girl's house. When locals received news of the incident, they beat up Mahesh, who was later admitted to Tellicherry Co-operative Hospital for treatment.
Atrocities against children have seen an increase in the state as shown by the rising number of cases registered under the POCSO Act in the last four years. 6,000 POCSO cases are still pending trial in the state.