Vadapalani Head Constable arrested for sexual abuse of 16-year-old boy in Chennai

A Vadapalani Head Constable was arrested in Chennai in the early hours of Wednesday for allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy and forcing alcohol into his mouth on the night of May 26. The accused, identified as Head Constable Vellapan, has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and police have initiated proceedings to dismiss him from service.

According to police officials, the victim had accompanied his uncle, Kumaresan, and family to visit temples on May 25. The boy was staying at Kumaresan's house while his parents were away in their hometown.

On the night of May 26, Kumaresan and his friend Vellapan were drinking alcohol together at the residence. After Kumaresan fell asleep, the police officer allegedly entered the bedroom where the teenager was resting. Vellapan then sexually abused the boy and forcibly poured alcohol into his mouth.

The boy resisted the assault, striking Vellapan with a nearby television remote. He managed to lock the accused officer inside the room from the outside and fled the house. The boy then walked to the local police station to report the incident.

Upon receiving the complaint, police officers reached the spot to conduct an enquiry. Following the preliminary probe, Vellapan was arrested and sent to remand.

The police department confirmed that a POCSO case has been registered against the accused officer. Furthermore, officials stated that action has been initiated to dismiss Vellapan from service with immediate effect under Article 311 of the Constitution of India.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage across Tamil Nadu, drawing sharp criticism from various political leaders. Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin reacted to the incident, stating that the situation had worsened to the point where a boy had to run to a police station to escape the police.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami also criticized the state government, stating that children are standing unprotected and urging the administration to focus on upholding law and order. AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran questioned how stability could be maintained when those responsible for preventing crimes are involved in criminal activities themselves.

Investigations into the case are currently underway.