Kerala: Accused in child abuse case held
The accused was produced before a local court and was remanded in 14 days judicial custody.
Kochi: A 43-year-old man who was wanted in connection with a case relating to sexual assault of a minor girl at Mulavukad near Kochi has surrendered before the Central police. According to the police, the accused P.N. Shagi, father of the victim’s classmate and a neighbor, went underground after the incident on February 1. Shagi was the CPM Panambukad West branch secretary but was ousted from the party’s primary membership following the incident.
“The complaint lodged by the parents of the victim says the accused sexually assaulted the girl when he reached the LP school to drop his son,” the police said. “The victim was subjected to counseling and a case against the accused was taken under provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO).”
Shagi was living in disguise at various religious places in Tamil Nadu. He came to know about the court dismissing his anticipatory bail petition while in Palani and decided to surrender. Earlier the police had traced a two-wheeler of the accused to the railway quarters complex near the Ernakulam North railway station. The accused was produced before a local court and was remanded in 14 days judicial custody.