A snowshoe racer from India who competed last weekend at the World Snowshoe Championships in New York is accused of sexually abusing a local girl after Senator Chuck Schumer pulled strings to allow him into the country after his visa was initially denied.

Police said 24-year-old Tanveer Hussain, of Kashmir, is charged with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

Saranac Lake Village police Sergeant Casey Reardon told the Adirondack Daily Enterprise that the 12-year-old girl and her parents reported that Hussain kissed and touched her in an 'intimate area over her clothing'.

The U.S. embassy in New Delhi initially rejected Hussain’s visa application to come to the U.S. to compete in the World Snowshoe Championship, but Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand contacted the New Delhi embassy, which allowed the racer to reapply and he was granted a visa.

Tanveer Hussain, 24, of Kashmir, (above right) has been arrested on charges of the abuse of a minor

Senator Chuck Schumer (above) helped Hussain get a visa to compete in the New York race after the snowshoe racer's application had been denied by the New Delhi embassy

Schumer's office told Fox News that the senator often intervenes to help speed the visa process for international competition.

'As we often do when local communities ask for help, at the request of Saranac Lake we helped to navigate the visa process so these athletes could compete at a local competition.

'The charges against one member of the group, who is accused of a serious crime and abusing our visa program, are extremely troubling. If he’s found guilty, he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.'

Hussain was in Saranac Lake competing in the World Snowshoe Championships

He allegedly kissed and touched a 12-year-old girl in an 'intimate area over her clothing' in Saranac Lake, New York, on Monday, after the conclusion of the three-day competition

Gillibrand’s office said Hussain's charges are 'extremely serious'.

Police said the assault happened Monday in the village in the Adirondack Mountains, after the conclusion of the three-day sporting competition.

'We approached with him, and he came with us willingly and has been cooperative since', Reardon said.

Hussain was in jail Thursday on $5,000 cash bail. His attorney entered a not-guilty plea for him.

The attorney, Brian Barrett, says because of the limited communications he's had with Hussain, he hasn't been able to properly evaluate the case.

Abid Khan, president of the Snowshoe Federation of India, said Hussain told him he is innocent. Khan also came to the village from Kashmir for the world championships but did not compete.

Khan told the Adirondack Daily Enterprise that the girl followed him and Hussain around in 'an affectionate way' during their stay in the village.

He said Hussain called the girl 'a nutcase'.

It was a long journey for Hussain to the championships last weekend. He was initially denied a visa to travel to the US, but with the help of Saranac Lake (pictured) officials and residents he was allowed to travel to the competition

He had planned to fly back to India later this week, but was in jail Thursday on $5,000 cash bail. His attorney entered a not-guilty plea for him

Khan said Hussain told him the girl tried to make an advance on him but he turned her away.

'He says there was no contact at all,' said Khan. '"She tried to come. I pushed her back." After that, he said he came back toward us and told her to go back home.'

Reardon, however, said police have enough evidence to suspect Hussain of sexual abuse.

'We’re confident in our investigation and the results of it,' said Reardon. 'There were other witnesses. Social media was involved. There’s evidence that supports the charges.'

Khan, 34, said the younger Hussain 'is more of a naive kind of person'.

'He is not aware that she is minor in first place,' said Khan. 'We told him later that she is a minor. He doesn’t understand proper English, so he doesn’t know.'

Saranac hosted the first World Snowshoe Championships in the US last weekend and Hussain finished 114th place in the competition's 8-kilometer race.

He and Khan had planned to fly back to India later this week, but his preliminary hearing on Monday in St. Armand, New York, will prevent that from happening.