A 26-year-old migrant worker from Bihar was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh in north Chennai’s Thiruvottiyur, police said on Wednesday.
The accused was identified as Rahul. He was charged under the Pocso Act . Meanwhile, the incident has sparked a political row. DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi expressed shock over the incident.
Police said the sexual assault came to light after a medical examination that took place after the girl was taken to hospital after complaining of difficulty in urinating. The accused lived in a nearby locality, said police. “The Tamil Nadu police must arrest all those involved in the case and take necessary steps to secure the maximum punishment, including death penalty for the heinous crime,” said Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) chief Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. In a statement, she said, “apart from creating special task force (Singappen Special Task Force) what steps this government has taken to prevent violence against children and women?
Another senior officer disputed media reports that the girl was gang-raped. A few other migrant workers were detained for allegedly trying to help the accused escape custody on Wednesday, added officers.
