Another staffer held for sexual harassment at HP care home

SHIMLA: After new staff joins, we will go for counselling of all girls in the child protection home. PK GUPTA, district child protection officer, Chamba

Police on Friday arrested another employee of the child protection home in a remote area of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh after six girls living at the facility accused them of sexual harassment.

The accused was arrested after he returned from vacation on Thursday.

The medical reports of the six girls, however, have not indicated rape or sexual harassment.

“The last 24 hours are crucial in medical examination in such cases. In this case, reports are normal,” a doctor said.

The police produced all four accused in a local court that remanded them to three-day police custody.

The footage from the CCTV cameras is also being scrutinised, said police.

The department has started the process to transfer staff of the child protection home in Chilli area of Tissa.

“After new staff joins, we will go for counselling of all girls in the child protection home,” district child protection officer (DCPO) Chamba, PK Gupta, said.

Superintendent of police Virender Tomar said a case had been registered under Section 354A (punishment for sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).

After the incident was reported, Chamba deputy commissioner Sudesh Mokta had asked for replacement of the male staff with female employees and ordered deployment of two women home guards in plain clothes at the protection home, where 28 girls are still living.