The manager of an unregistered hostel in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, sexually abused at least 14 girls. The girls, who are from various educational institutions in Eluru, were staying in the hostel as paying guests.
According to the victims, Sashi Kumar, the accused, would take the girls to movies and later sexually abuse them at a nearby boys' hostel. Those who resisted faced physical assault and were forced to kneel as punishment.
Sashi Kumar, in addition to managing the hostel, also ran a photo studio in the town. The girls alleged that he took one of them to Bapatla on September 15 under the pretext of a photo shoot, where he abused her before returning her to the hostel the next day.
Police suspect that Kumar used his photo studio in Eluru to lure girls with promises of photo shoots, manipulating them with smooth-talking schemes.
The case of multiple assaults came to light when seven victims approached the police on Tuesday, according to a report in The Times of India.
Initial investigations revealed that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the original managers of the hostel neglected its upkeep, allowing Kumar to take control. He appointed his second wife as the warden and his niece as the caretaker.
The hostel housed 45 students, including 26 Intermediate students, two pursuing bachelor’s degrees, and the rest being school students, the TOI report said.
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