Man held for rape attempt on elderly woman

The police arrested a man in connection with an attempted rape of a 65-year-old woman who was living alone at Alathur near here on Sunday. The accused, identified as Suresh Porulippadam, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker from Padur near Alathur was held from Palani in Tamil Nadu. He was absconding since the alleged attack in the early hours of Friday.

He allegedly broke into the woman’s house in the early hours of Friday while she was asleep and attacked her. However, he fled the scene after the woman raised an alarm.

Suresh was booked on charges of attempted rape and attempted murder. The police said he had been found drinking in public with two others on Thursday night, during which they allegedly vandalised flex boards of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI).

The police also arrested Suresh’s alleged accomplices, Vishnu and Aravind, both identified as BJP workers. But they were later released on bail.

The BJP denied that Suresh was associated with the party. In response, the DYFI released photographs and news reports claiming to establish his links with the BJP.

Meanwhile, the DYFI arranged a safe house for the elderly woman who was attacked.