A 35-year-old archery coach from Coimbatore found himself behind bars on Saturday after being arrested on serious charges of sexually harassing a minor girl during training sessions. The case, registered under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, has sent shockwaves through the local sports community.
Traumatic Discovery at Archery Championship
The disturbing truth about the harassment emerged on November 8 when the victim, now aged 16, participated in an archery championship. The young athlete panicked and fainted upon spotting her former coach at the event, revealing the deep psychological impact of her past trauma.
According to official sources, the alleged sexual abuse occurred back in 2022 when the girl was training under the accused coach. She had been receiving coaching at his archery center from 2019 to 2022, during which period the inappropriate touching incidents reportedly took place on multiple occasions.
Parental Intervention and Police Complaint
"When her parents noticed her distress and pressed for answers, the girl finally revealed the harassment she had endured during training sessions in 2022," disclosed an official source familiar with the case. The victim had kept the abuse to herself at the time, and her parents had changed coaching centers for unrelated reasons before learning the truth.
The case took a concerning turn when the family initially approached the Coimbatore West all-women police on November 10. The mother filed a formal complaint, but officers allegedly sent her back with assurances of an inquiry rather than immediate action.
Alleged Intimidation and Escalation to CM Cell
In a shocking development, a woman police officer reportedly visited the minor's home days later and threatened the victim against pursuing the complaint. This intimidation tactic prompted the distressed parents to escalate the matter directly to the Chief Minister's Cell, seeking justice for their daughter.
The intervention proved crucial. DCP G Karthikeyan subsequently conducted a thorough inquiry into the allegations, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) on Friday and the eventual arrest of the accused coach the following day.
The accused, who reportedly has connections with a political party and operates an archery coaching center in Coimbatore, has been remanded to judicial custody following his arrest. The case continues to develop as investigators gather additional evidence about the incidents that occurred during the training sessions.
