Thiruvananthapuram: A 67-year-old shop owner was arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl who visited his shop to buy goods in Kallambalam. The accused, Sirajudeen, of Menappara, was arrested from his native place by Kallambalam police in connection with the incident, which took place on Thursday. The incident came to light after the survivor disclosed the alleged abuse to her parents. Subsequently, the survivor lodged a complaint with the police, based on which a case was registered. The accused was booked under Section 75(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with sexual harassment, and Sections 7 and 8 of the Pocso Act, 2012, which deal with sexual assault against a child and the punishment for the offence, respectively. Sub-inspector Manu R and his team made the arrest. The accused was subsequently produced before the court and remanded in judicial custody. The police are continuing the investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and collect further evidence. More details of the incident will emerge only after the investigation progresses and the accused is questioned, the police said.
