Residents of Thalakundah on the outskirts of Udhagamandalam town blocked the Ooty-Gudalur Road as well as the Ooty-Masinagudi Road on Thursday morning, demanding that a 23-year-old man, accused of sexually assaulting a minor, be booked under the Goondas Act.
According to the police, the accused, identified as Ajith, an area resident, had sexually assaulted a nine-year-old girl whom he had lured into a thicket when she was returning home on Wednesday evening. Area residents, who heard the cries of the child, were said to have chased Ajith and assaulted him before handing him over to the Pudumund police.
Both the victim as well as Ajith were admitted to the government medical college and hospital in Udhagamandalam.
