The Dalits children were engaged in a fight with some other school children who belong to the Hindu intermediate castes. How can this be a sexual offence and brought under the realm of the POCSO Act,” she asked. Since the complaint involved a cognizable offence, the police registered a case under appropriate provisions of law. The Madurai (Rural) Police have registered a first information report against six school-going Dalit children, aged between seven and 12, under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after they were engaged in a fight with some other school children who belong to the Hindu intermediate castes. Fending off criticism, Madurai SP Vijayaendra Bidari told The Hindu: “We were not aware of the name or age of the accused persons.

Source: The Hindu August 09, 2016 02:37 UTC