Man Arrested in Karur for Alleged Kidnapping of Minor Girl
Police in Tamil Nadu's Karur district have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly kidnapping a seven-year-old girl with sexual intent. The incident occurred on Saturday in the S Valayapatti area near Thogaimalai, sending shockwaves through the local community.
The accused, identified as A Saravanan from Makalipatti in Kazhugur panchayat, was taken into custody by Thogaimalai police. He has been booked under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and section 87 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for kidnapping.
Details of the Disturbing Incident
According to the police report, the young girl was playing near her house around 4 pm when the accused approached her. Saravanan, who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol, deceived the child and took her away on his motorcycle.
When the girl did not return home, her worried parents and local residents launched an immediate search. Despite their efforts, they were initially unable to trace her whereabouts.
After some time, in a turn of events, the accused returned and dropped the girl back in the locality. However, his behavior raised suspicion among the residents.
Public Vigilance Leads to Arrest and Protest
Alert locals, noticing his suspicious conduct and receiving inconsistent answers to their questions, detained Saravanan on the spot. They promptly alerted the Thogaimalai police, who arrived and took the man into formal custody.
The arrest, however, did not quell public anger. Following the incident, residents of the area staged a sudden road blockade in front of the Thogaimalai police station. Their primary demand was the removal of a government-run liquor shop in the vicinity.
The protesters alleged that the easy availability of alcohol contributed to such antisocial and criminal activities in their neighborhood. The blockade briefly disrupted traffic on the busy Kulithalai–Manapparai main road.
Senior police officials, including Kulithalai DSP Senthilkumar, Thogaimalai inspector Jayaraman, and sub-inspector Balasubramaniam, intervened to pacify the crowd. They assured the protesters that the liquor shop would be closed, following which the agitation was called off and traffic restored.
The case remains under investigation as authorities examine all aspects of the kidnapping attempt. This incident has once again highlighted critical concerns regarding child safety and the societal impact of alcohol outlets in residential areas.
