Thiruvananthapuram: Nagaroor police on Wednesday arrested a 34-year-old Velallalur native for allegedly sexually assaulting a 23-year-old woman during Shivaratri festival at a temple in Koduvazhannoor.The survivor had arrived at the temple premises with her family around 8.30pm to watch a Kakkarissi play. According to police, the accused, a labourer who was known to the survivor, allegedly lured her away around 11.30pm on the pretext of buying tea and bangles. He reportedly took her to an unoccupied house belonging to his wife near the temple premises and sexually assaulted her. When the woman did not return for a long time, her family began searching for her and noticed a man fleeing from a nearby house. On checking, they found the survivor inside. Following the incident, the family approached Nagaroor police and filed a complaint. Police recorded the survivor’s statement and registered a case. “The accused was questioned in detail following the arrest,” a police source said. He has been charged under Section 63 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rape.
