A disturbing incident at a government-run shelter in Chitlapakkam, near Tambaram, has raised serious concerns over the safety of minors in state care facilities. A 13-year-old girl, recently placed in the shelter following her father’s death, was allegedly assaulted by a long-time security guard, leaving her with a fractured leg.
The accused, 50-year-old Mathew, had been employed as a night guard at the facility for several years. Authorities arrested him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), after the survivor identified him during questioning.
Police investigations revealed that the girl, a Class 8 student, had only been in the shelter for a few days when the incident took place early Sunday morning. Around 5 am, the accused allegedly attempted to carry the girl to another area of the building after covering her mouth. When she resisted and cried for help, Mathew reportedly dropped her and fled the spot. The fall resulted in a leg fracture.
Shelter residents rushed the injured girl to Chromepet Government Hospital, but she was later transferred to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) for surgery. While staff initially attributed the injury to a regular fall, medical professionals suspected otherwise and alerted the police after speaking with the child.
Woman Guard to Ensure Security in the Home
“Women guards will be appointed in all government and NGO-run shelters housing women and children,” said Geeta Jeevan, Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, following public outrage. “One of the women guards will be made to stay in the home at night to ensure round-the-clock safety.”
Investigators ruled out any unauthorised entry into the premises, citing the shelter’s high walls and absence of entries in the visitor logbook. CCTV footage and internal inquiries narrowed down suspicion to employees present during the time of the incident. The survivor later confirmed the identity of the accused.
According to Minister Jeevan, the shelter’s warden was on leave that day, and only the cook was present. “The child had come down in the morning to study. The cook had left the place when the guard had entered, which is what is being suspected,” she said.
The case has since been transferred to the Selaiyur All Women Police Station for further investigation. Authorities say Mathew had no prior complaints on record, though he had worked at the facility for seven years. Jeevan noted that other children described him as behaving like a father figure. “We are not sure if this is being reported because she was new. It is being investigated, and action will be taken,” she added.
Incident Fuels Political Debate
The incident has sparked political backlash. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami strongly criticised the DMK government, calling the incident a reflection of administrative failure. “Shocked to hear that a girl student studying in Class 8 faced sexual assault in a Government Care Centre by a guard,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“The fact that a guard committed such a crime shows how criminals are unafraid of any action from this government,” Palaniswami said. “Chief Minister Stalin, who keeps saying Tamil Nadu is out of control for Delhi — when are you going to control the ‘out of control’ sexual assault committing ‘sirs’ in your rule?”
AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran also voiced concern, saying the increase in crimes against women had created an “extraordinary situation” in the state. He urged the government to ensure better security in all women’s shelters and to protect vulnerable individuals from harm.
Responding to the criticism, Jeevan stated, “As per Chief Minister MK Stalin’s instructions, immediate and stern action will be taken against the culprit. We have also instructed authorities to appoint three women guards to replace the existing male guard.” She also promised improved security for all residents in such facilities moving forward.
