17 held for sexually assaulting minor girl

Seventeen people, mostly service staff in an apartment complex, were arrested for sexually assaulting a minor hearing-impaired girl for seven months, police said yesterday. The accused are in the age group of 23-66 and were working in the apartment complex as plumbers, lift operators, security guard and others. The 11-year-old girl is the daughter of a resident in the apartment complex. The accused have been charged under Indian Penal Code provisions and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. A court in Chennai remanded them in judicial custody till July 31. The matter came to light when the girl narrated her ordeal to her elder sister.