Hyderabad-based child-rights activist and head of Balala Hakkula Sangham, Achyuta Rao has found himself in a spot of trouble after a family complained that he had trespassed into their house.
Achyuta Rao had acted on anonymous calls he had received about a case of child sexual abuse. But not only did the case turn out to be false, but Rao ended up offending the family.
Deccan Chronicle reported that a case was registered against Rao under sections of 448 (trespassing) and 509 (insulting the modesty of a woman by word or gesture) of Indian Penal Code and Section 22 (false compliant/ information) of the POCSO Act.
In a statement, Rao said, “Going for rescue along with officials is not trespassing and particularly, I did not enter the house.”
DC had quoted the Police Station SHO Chandrasekhar as saying, “The activist received a call saying a girl is being sexually abused by her father, and went to investigate it without confirming that the information he received was true. Before setting out, Rao had called up the Child Protection Unit and was escorted to the place by its functionary Razia Bhanu.”
Speaking to TNM on Tuesday, the activist said that he had indeed got “false information”.
“I received several calls from a girl and a man who claimed that a girl was being sexually abused and I informed the same to District Child Protection unit and the police station. On May 22nd Sub-inspector of another police station, Rafia Banu of Child Protection Unit and I along with some journalists were waiting outside the girl’s house. A lady constable and Razia Bhanu went inside to enquire about the purported crime,” Rao said.
Rao alleged that he was attacked by a group of men as he was waiting outside.
“Unexpectedly, a number of locals gathered and tried to attack us but police acted promptly and shifted some people to police station. At the police station, people tried to assault me, but police saved me,” Rao said.
Rao added that “Whenever I go for a rescue, I take the concerned officials and police along and always inform the media in advance, I did the same yesterday too.”
He said that the information turned out to be false.
TNM could not reach the police inspector for a comment.