An ashram teacher, who was hailed as a hero for coming to the aid of a minor rape victim who was going door to door seeking help in September last year, has now been arrested for alleged sexual exploitation of three minor boys at a school in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

Three boys, two aged 14 and one aged 12, studying at a religious institution, filed a complaint on Tuesday evening alleging sexual abuse, stated Mahakal police station in-charge Ajay Verma, according to PTI. As many as 80 children live and study at the institution, he added.

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Police have filed three FIRs against the 21-year-old teacher, Rahul Sharma, and ashram caretaker Ajay Thakur, under the IPC and various sections of the POCSO Act. Both individuals have been remanded to judicial custody, adding that there are reportedly several other victims who have yet to come forward and file complaints.

Ujjain SP Pradeep Sharma told The Indian Express, “So far three children have come forward and made the complaint. We have arrested two persons in this case.”

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In September 2023, a minor girl, bleeding and partially clothed, following an alleged rape by an autorickshaw driver was roaming on the streets of Ujjain. Despite her condition, she roamed the area for an hour without anyone coming to her aid, and one resident even shooed her away.

Rahul Sharma claimed that he assisted the girl after noticing her outside the ashram. During that period, he had told The Indian Express.“This is a holy town, people here are supposed to be helpful, but no one helped her… there was no humanity.”

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The police have currently ruled out any link to the Ujjain rape case.“We have been through 200 CCTV videos and his role has so far been ruled out,” said a senior police officer. It’s reported that children from impoverished families were sent to this ashram for pandit training, affiliated with the state Sanskrit board.

About 10 days ago, a minor boy allegedly sexually assaulted by Thakur informed his mother upon returning home. “The parents of the child came to the ashram. Then the ashram worker Thakur was sacked. Later, many more parents visited the ashram and leveled similar allegations,” said a senior officer.

The officer mentioned the presence of numerous other victims and emphasised their encouragement for them to come forward and report. Additionally, it was noted that plainclothes policemen attempted to speak with the children, but they declined out of fear.