Kolkata: A martial arts instructor accused of sexually abusing a minor girl for several months under the pretext of teaching karate and kung fu has been arrested in Kolkata.Police identified the accused as Prasenjit Das. He was arrested under the Pocso Act after a complaint was registered through a Zero FIR.According to police, the complaint was first lodged at Rabindra Sarobar PS. Since the alleged abuse took place in the Survey Park police station area, Rabindra Sarobar police registered a Zero FIR and forwarded the case to Survey Park police. Officers said both police stations coordinated quickly and arrested the accused within hours.Das worked as treasurer at an NGO-run hostel in Survey Park, where he also taught martial arts to minor girls living there. The hostel housed girls who did not live with their parents or lacked family support while continuing their education.Police said Das allegedly touched girls inappropriately during martial arts lessons. He is also accused of isolating the victim on the pretext of giving her private training and sexually assaulting her in secluded areas of the hostel. The complaint says he threatened the girl to stop her from speaking out.The victim, who had been staying at the hostel since last year, reportedly tried to avoid him but was allegedly intimidated and forced into separate classes where the abuse continued.After months of trauma, another teacher at the hostel noticed the girl’s distress and asked her what had happened. The girl then broke down and disclosed the alleged abuse. The teacher informed NGO staff, and a complaint was made to the Child Welfare Committee.CWC members visited the hostel, spoke to the girl and arranged for her to be shifted to a protective home. Police said they are questioning Das to find out whether other minor girls were also abused.
