A 27-year-old labourer, who earned a living by helping conduct final rites, was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl who lived in the neighbourhood in Tirumullaivoyal on Tuesday.
Police said Dilli Babu (27), of Anna Street, Tirumullaivoyal, had returned home in an inebriated condition after finishing his work at the nearby Sivan Koil Street around 8 30 pm on Monday.
Police said the 27-year-old unmarried man, who noticed his neighbour’s daughter playing outside their house, allegedly lured her to his house promising to give her chocolate.
The girl went to the man’s house. The girl’s mother too did not stop her since she was reportedly quite friendly with his mother.
A little later, the girl ran home crying.
Police said the girl had told her mother of the incident but she initially did not suspect that the child had become a victim of sexual assault at the hands of the labourer.
However, around 11 pm, the girl’s mother walked into the Tirumullaivoyal police station along with the girl and lodged a complaint of sexual assault.
Police swung into action and brought Dilli Babu to the station.
Police said the girl was referred to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital where it was confirmed that the girl had been subjected to sexual assault. Police claimed the girl also had scratch marks on her. “The girl had bite marks on her lips. It was a clear case of molestation. He has no earlier record,” a police official said.
Police said they registered a case of attempt to rape under Sections 7 and 8 of Protection of Child from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.