Mangaluru: A 47-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly stalking a 16-year-old schoolgirl. The accused has been identified as Jayanth, a resident of Sarapady in Bantwal. SP Arun K said that he was booked under Section 78 of the BNS and Section 12 of the Pocso Act.According to the complaint filed by the victim’s mother, her daughter was being consistently followed by the unidentified middle aged man while traveling on the bus over the past few days. On the evening of Aug 19, when the girl arrived at a bus stand in Bantwal taluk, she noticed the accused closely observing her again.Frightened by his behavior, the girl rushed to her mother’s workplace and informed her of the situation. The mother, accompanied by her employer, immediately went to the bus stand and confronted the man. When questioned, he stated his name was Jayanth, before fleeing the spot.Based on the mother’s complaint, Bantwal Town police registered a case. Following a swift investigation, police took the accused into custody, interrogated him, and produced him before a court, the SP said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.
