MANGALORE: Police on Sunday arrested the 30-year-old headmaster of a madrassa, Abdul Khader Yamani, on charges of sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl. Yamani is attached to Boliyar Jumma Masjid.

Police commissioner Manish Kharbikar said the family informed the child helpline 1098 after the girl, a Class II student, complained to her mother about the harassment. "We received information from the helpline and arrested the accused," he said. "According to the complaint, the girl was sexually assaulted three to four days ago."

The girl, from Boliyar, attended the madrassa from 6.30am to 8.30am every day, he said.

"The child helpline authorities informed me about the incident around 5.30am," ACP Ravikumar said. "The girl was sent for medical examination." A case was registered at Konaje police station.