Elderly roadside vendor arrested in Anekal for alleged harassment of minor girls

Elderly vendor in Anekal arrested for allegedly harassing minor girls, exploiting trust with sweets and isolation.

The Anekal Police Station arrested a 65-year-old roadside vendor on Saturday following allegations of sexual harassment involving at least four minor girls in Anekal.

The accused has been identified as Krishnamurthy, a stationery vendor and resident of Anekal. According to the police, he allegedly used his roadside stall to lure children under the pretext of offering chocolates and sweets.

The incident came to light after a class 2 student informed her parents on Friday that she had been inappropriately touched by the vendor. Acting on the complaint, the parents immediately approached the police.

Based on the complaint, the police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and took the accused into custody on Saturday.

During the preliminary investigation, officials uncovered what they described as a disturbing pattern. Krishnamurthy is alleged to have similarly targeted three other minor girls in the early morning hours, particularly after their parents dropped them off near their school. Police said the accused allegedly exploited the trust of young children by offering them sweets, took them to isolated places and molested them.

The accused has been remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is under way to ascertain whether more children may have been affected.