Man from West Bengal arrested for sexually assaulting 9-year-old girl in Tirunelveli

TIRUNELVELI: The Tirunelveli district police arrested a 27-year-old worker from West Bengal in connection with an alleged sexual assault on a nine-year-old girl in the Radhapuram police station limits.

According to the police, an unidentified man entered the house through the front door that was left open at night and allegedly sexually assaulted the girl, who was alone in the house. When the child raised an alarm, he fled from the spot.

Based on a complaint lodged by the girl's parents, the Valliyur All-Women Police registered a case under Pocso Act and launched a search for the accused.

When they examined CCTV footage from the area, the police found that a migrant worker had been moving around the locality on the night of the incident.

Based on the footage and further investigation, the police identified the accused as Surja Dev Rai (27), son of Gourang Rai, a native of Bakshiganj in West Bengal.

Officials said Rai was working at a stone quarry in the Vadakkankulam area and had allegedly walked to the village on the night of the incident while under the influence of alcohol.

The police arrested him on August 31 and he was subsequently remanded in judicial custody.