MADURAI: A 43-year-old man was arrested by the police here on Saturday for sexually abusing his minor daughter.
According to the 15-year-old victim, ever since the death of her mother six years ago, she has been subjected to abuse by her father, a habitual drunkard.
Police said that the M Azhagar, a resident of Vaigai Vadakarai area, was a daily wage labourer. The girl was a drop-out and her elder brother, an ambulance driver, was not aware of the bad behaviour of his father
Unable to bear the torture and with no one to help her, the 15-year-old girl walked out of her house on October 9, police said.
She was spotted by the Mathichiyam police the next day, but the girl was not in a position to express clearly as to how she was abused by her father.
Subsequently, police sought the help of the District Child Welfare Committee, which took her under its protection.
After proper counselling by the district child welfare committee officials for the past couple of weeks, she narrated the torture meted out to her by her father.
Tallakulam All Women Police Station Inspector, later, recorded her statement under Section 161 of the CrPC. Based on that, a case was registered against Azhagar under Section 376 of the IPC and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. Subsequently, Azhagar was arrested.
Police said that the girl has not yet recovered from the mental trauma and that she would continue to reside in the home under the care of the Child Welfare Committee.