Vijayawada: Yet another case was registered against Sashi Kumar, hostel warden at an ashram in Eluru, who enticed and sexually abused several girls in the hostel. The fresh case was registered on Tuesday after a girl, an intermediate student, lodged a complaint with Eluru Two Town Police.
It may be recalled that in September, around 14 victims alleged that they were physically and emotionally abused by Sashi Kumar. The accused has been arrested already.
According to Eluru Two Town Inspector Y V Ramana, in September, the incident was brought to light when three victims approached the police station. The girls, in tears, described their traumatic experience of being sexually abused and even physically assaulted by Sashi Kumar. “The accused touched the victim girls inappropriately under the pretense of photo shoots,” victims told police.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ashram’s management allegedly neglected their responsibilities, allowing Sashi Kumar, a local resident, to assume control of the hostel. He appointed his second wife as the warden and his niece as caretaker, facilitating his continued illicit activities.
The victims alleged that Kumar sexually assaulted girl students in the boys’ hostel rooms. If they refused, he would slap them, pull their hair, and force them to kneel as punishment. He also verbally abused the victims, stating that if a victim had a boyfriend, he would arrange a room and post police as guards outside.
The victims also disclosed that on September 15, Kumar took one of the girl students from the hostel to Bapatla under the pretext of a photo shoot at the beach, assaulted her there, and returned her to the hostel the following day.
Sashi Kumar, who served as the warden of the govt BC hostel in Yerraguntapalli of Chintalapudi mandal in the district, was suspended soon after the FIR was registered against him. He was arrested and sent to remand.
