The girl’s father had committed suicide in front of the Selaiyur police station a few days ago since the police could not trace his 13-year-old daughter.

The arrested, Yuvaraj of Kamarajapuram in Selaiyur, was known to the girl and was trying to establish a relationship with her.

Two weeks ago the girl and boy went missing. The girl’s father filed a complaint at the Selaiyur station but since the police could not trace his daughter he committed suicide by setting himself ablaze.

Meanwhile, the police formed a special team and were trying to trace the missing duo. On Wednesday, police found they were staying in a hotel in Ooty. A special team who visited the hotel rescued the girl from Yuvaraj and arrested him.

On Thursday morning Yuvaraj was handed over to the Tambaram all-women police station and police who registered a case under Pocso Act remanded Yuvaraj in judicial custody and sent him to prison. The girl was sent to the government hospital for a medical checkup.