Thogaimalai police arrested a 22-year-old man under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for the alleged kidnap and sexual assault of a seven-year-old girl in Karur district on Saturday.
According to the police, the victim, a Class II student at a government primary school, was at home on Saturday afternoon. Her mother, a 32-year-old daily wage labourer, had gone to a nearby field to graze cattle. Around 4:30 p.m., while the child was on her way to meet her mother, the accused, identified as S. Saravanan , 22, of Magalipatti, accosted her.
Investigations revealed Saravanan lured the child on his motorcycle with the promise of buying her candies. He allegedly took her to a secluded area, approximately 8 km from her residence, where he subjected her to sexual assault.
The matter came to light when the girl’s parents and local residents, who were searching for the missing child, spotted the accused attempting to drop her back near the village. Suspecting his behaviour, the villagers secured Saravanan and alerted the Thogaimalai police.
Based on a complaint filed by the mother, the police registered a case under Section 87 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 5(m) read with 6 of the POCSO Act. The accused was subsequently remanded in judicial custody.
Following the incident, hundreds of residents staged a ‘road roko’ on the Kulithalai–Manapparai highway. The protesters alleged the presence of a TASMAC outlet in the area, where anti-social elements were hanging out, jeopardised the safety of women and children.
Kulithalai Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Senthilkumar and Thogaimalai Inspector Jayaraman held talks with the agitators. The protest was withdrawn after the officials assured them of action on their demands.
Published – December 29, 2025 06:05 pm IST
