Police said that Deepa (name changed), a cowherd, was kidnapped by a trio on December 11 to a secluded spot near a lake in Thandalam and sexually assaulted. Later, Deepa escaped from the trio and reached home. Then, she narrated the incident to her husband. The victim’s husband lodged a complaint in connection with the sexual assault by the trio with the Melmaruvathur police, who directed it to the All women police.