Man Arrested for Sexual Assault of 6-Year-Old on Palaruvi Express in Kerala

A 40-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl on the Palaruvi Express as it traveled from Kerala to Tamil Nadu, police said. The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday in a general compartment where the child was sleeping with her grandfather on the floor.

The accused, identified as a resident of Kollam and employed at a poultry shop, allegedly moved the girl to his seat and assaulted her, police said. A woman in a nearby seat reportedly recorded the act and raised an alarm, prompting intervention after the train entered Tamil Nadu. The suspect disembarked at Sengottai but was later traced and arrested in Kollam on Friday.

Police recorded statements from the girl, her parents, and witnesses, and obtained photographic evidence before launching a formal investigation. The accused has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. He was remanded to 15 days' judicial custody on Saturday.

The Punalur railway police station is leading the investigation, and officials said forensic and digital evidence will be submitted to the court. The court will reconvene on the case during the next hearing scheduled in two weeks.