Sullia: Missing minor girl traced; youth arrested under POCSO act

Sullia: Missing minor girl traced; youth arrested under POCSO act

Mangalore Today News Network

Sullia, Jul 24, 2026: Sullia police have arrested an 18-year-old youth under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly luring and sexually assaulting a minor girl who had been missing since May.

The accused has been identified as Dhanush (18), a resident of Kadaba.

According to the police, the minor girl, a resident within the Sullia Police Station limits, had left her house on May 7, telling her family that she was going to Mangaluru for work. When she failed to return, her family lodged a missing person complaint.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered at the Sullia Police Station on May 11 under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

During the investigation, the police traced the girl on July 22. In her statement, the minor alleged that Dhanush had lured her and sexually assaulted her.

Following her statement, the police invoked Section 64(2)(m) of the BNS along with Sections 5(l) and 6 of the POCSO Act in the existing case.

The accused was arrested on July 22 and is currently in police custody for further investigation. Further legal proceedings are underway, the police said.