The Pettah police on Sunday arrested a 42-year-old autorickshaw driver for an alleged attempt to abduct a female passenger with the intent to outrage her modesty.
According to the police, the accused has been identified as Kumaran of Naruvamoodu. The incident took place around 8.30 a.m. after the victim had boarded the autorickshaw from Kannammoola. He allegedly refused to drop the passenger at her destination near Chakai and sped away, ignoring the pleas of the passenger. The victim, who jumped out of the speeding vehicle as the autorickshaw turned towards Venpalavattom from Chackai junction, sustained injuries and was soon hospitalised at a private hospital.
Pettah Circle Inspector S.M. Riyas said that the accused allegedly passed lewd comments and asked the victim to accompany him to Karikkakom. A police personnel who was present at the Chackai junction noticed something was amiss as he saw the victim perturbed. Soon, a control room vehicle was dispatched to bring to book the accused. The driver was soon apprehended by a motorcyclist who trailed close behind and who handed over the accused to the police.
The accused has been booked under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code including those pertaining to abduction and attempt to outrage modesty. He was remanded to judicial custody after being produced at a local court, the police said.