COIMBATORE: The Pollachi All Women Police on Saturday morning arrested a 22-year-old man for allegedly raping two minor girls staying at a home run by Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.
Superintendent of Police M Sudhakar confirmed that Veerasamy (22), a native of Valparai, was the only person involved in the case. Veerasamy, a history-sheeter, was arrested from his hideout near Pollachi railway station after his accomplices in a mobile snatching incident spilled the beans.
On Friday, Gopinath (23) and Aravinthan (19) were detained by a special team on suspicion.
Interrogations with them pointed towards the role of Veerasamy in the case. Based on the lead, special teams launched a search and nabbed him from his hideout, police said.
“The trio, after snatching a cellphone from a person on Wednesday night, went their on ways. However, Veerasamy, who was drunk, went to the home and kidnapped the girls at knife-point before raping them,” police said.
Veerasamy had taken the girls, aged 10 and 11, to the terrace of a commercial building nearby. He chose the spot as it was hidden behind banners and hoarding and was not easily visible.
Veersamy had been involved in cellphone snatching incidents and there were six cases, including an assault, pending against him, police added.
The Pollachi All Women Police also arrested E B Suresh kumar, warden of the TELC-run home. Police were on the lookout for S A Packianathan Pastor, TELC chairman. The manager of the home is on the run.
Meanwhile, on Saturday afternoon, police denied Arjun Sampath, president of Indu Makkal Katchi, permission to enter the premises of the TELC fearing law and order situation.
According to sources, a community-based political party has come forward to support the victims. Besides, the victims were being given counselling at the GH.