Man held for sexual assault of minor girl

T'puram: Kilimanoor police on Sunday arrested a 52-year-old man from Karette for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl. The accused assaulted the girl on multiple occasions between Dec 2025 and March. Police also filed a case against the girl's mother for aiding in the assault. The mother is currently hiding. According to police, the girl's mother is an acquaintance of the accused. The police said she was living separately from her husband and resided in a rented house with her two daughters. Taking advantage of their acquaintance, the accused frequently visited the house and assaulted the elder daughter, even in the mother's presence. Due to the harassment, the girl had an argument with her mother and went to live with her father. When the girl refused to return to her mother's house, the father, with the help of a local representative, took her to a rehabilitation centre. During counselling, the details of the assault came to light. Based on the information provided by the centre, police registered a case. The accused was presented in court and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days, police said. He has been booked under Pocso Act. tnn