Horse handler detained over sexual assault of 6-year-old

Times News Network

Chennai: A 15-year-old horse handler at Marina Beach was picked up by police for allegedly sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl.

Police said the child, who had come to the beach with her family on Saturday night, spotted the teenager and his horse near the service road. Giving in to her request, the family asked the boy to take the six-year-old on a horse ride.

However, instead of staying near the service road where the family waited, the boy took the girl towards the seashore nearly 400m away in the dark. When they returned, the child was crying continuously. She told her family that the boy had sexually assaulted her during the ride.

Enraged, the family and passers-by confronted and attacked the boy. Meanwhile, the horse's owner reached the spot and rescued the handler from the crowd.

The family filed a complaint at Mylapore All Women Police Station. The boy was taken in for a medical examination, detained, and produced before a probation officer on the directions of the Child Welfare Committee. Further investigation is underway.

Police said the boy was a school dropout.