Accused in Pocso case attacks witness

A 20-year-old student, who is a witness in a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) case, was assaulted and threatened by the accused a day before he was to depose against him.

Akash Babu, a resident of Lavelle Road and a first PU student in a college on Bannerghatta Road, was to depose before the court on October 26 to testify against POCSO accused Nartham Kumar.

Kumar, who was working as a driver with the minor girl’s family, had sexually abused her. A POCSO case was registered against him with the Cubbon Park police in 2017.

On October 25, Akash Babu had gone to pay exam fee at a school in front of the hockey stadium when Kumar, along with three others intercepted Babu and beat him with iron rods. Kumar threatened Babu against testifying before the court. Babu received injuries to his leg, shoulder and head and could not depose before the court on October 26.