A Chandigarh-based child rights activist and theatre artist has been arrested over charges of sodomy and attempt to murder.

Acting on a complaint filed by six victims and the accused's former partner, the Chandigarh police arrested Zulfiqar Khan (45) on Saturday. The victims - in their complaint to the Chandigarh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights - said that the accused, who runs NGO Theatre Age group, has been having unnatural sex with the inmates of a school being run by his NGO since the past six-seven years. The victims also alleged that Zulfiqar used to threaten the children.

The boys, who are now adults, recently lodged the complaint against Khan. The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights had asked the Chandigarh police to probe the allegations which were corroborated by the victims and other inmates during the probe. The medical examination confirmed that the victims were sodomised. They have also submitted videos and photos which shows the accused sexually abusing the children. "Zulfiqar Khan has been arrested under various sections of the IPC. He was produced in a court on Sunday.

We are investigating the case to find out whether the accused abused more children," Sector 11 SHO Narinder Patial said. Another person who exposed Khan was Kanwarpal. He was sacked by Khan when he objected to his wrongdoings.