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Thirteen days after a 10-year-old girl was abducted and sexually assaulted while walking home from school in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvallur district, the police on Friday, July 25, have arrested a youth from West Bengal.
The suspect, whose name is yet to be revealed, was seen in Sullurpeta of Andhra Pradesh, in the same clothes as in CCTV footage from the day of the crime. He was taken into custody by one of the special police teams.
The attack occurred on July 12, while the child was walking home alone from school on a deserted street when the accused allegedly abducted her. In CCTV footage that has now gone viral, the man can be seen following the girl before abducting her.
Reports say the girl fled home after the assault and informed her grandmother, who took her to the Ponneri Government Hospital. She was then referred to a government hospital in Chennai for further treatment.
Soon after the incident, the Arambakkam police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The Tiruvallur police formed eight special teams to track down the accused. Officers reviewed CCTV footage from shops, roads, and railway stations. Still images and clips of the suspect wearing a light blue T-shirt were circulated widely across Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.
The public anger over the lack of swift action had prompted protests from many parties including All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), who demanded the suspect’s immediate arrest.
The police had also announced a Rs 5 lakh reward for any information leading to the suspect’s arrest, and assured anonymity for informants.
Following the inquiry, the arrest was made on July 25, when a team spotted a man in Sullurpeta across the Tamil Nadu–Andhra Pradesh border, matching the suspect’s description. He was detained and questioned.
According to reports, the man confessed to the crime during preliminary questioning. The survivor was shown a photograph of the suspect and she confirmed his identity. Two other individuals had previously been questioned in the case, but both were ruled out after the survivor did not identify them. The latest suspect matched the physical appearance seen in CCTV visuals and has now been arrested, the reports say.
He is believed to be a worker from West Bengal, working at a roadside dhabha in Sullurpeta. Police are currently verifying his background and whether he has a criminal record in any other state. Further investigation is underway.