Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 20: A security guard of a private hospital in the city, who has been accused of sexually harassing a boy, was arrested by the police personnel of Kadri station here. The guard in question has been identified as Seetharam Shetty (35), a resident of Golthamajalu in Bantwal taluk.

The mother of the boy is being treated in the said hospital since the last few days. As she has been admitted into the women's ward, the boy has no permission to stay there. He therefore used to sleep in the hospital floor. The security guard in question reportedly advised the boy to sleep inside the store room as there is space for him there. The boy slept at the spot shown by the guard on Monday night, it is said. On this occasion, Shetty forced himself on the boy and intimidated him into succumbing to his sexual desires, it is said.

As the boy developed upheavals in health the next day, the fact that he was sexually assaulted came to light. A case relating to this incident was filed at Kadri police station on the night of Tuesday July 18. Shetty, who has been booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, was thereafter arrested.