Police circulate pictures of the vehicle to trace him; tip-off came from mechanic

A 42-year-old auto driver was arrested after he allegedly tried to kidnap a seven-year-old girl who was cycling on Santhome High Road, on Sunday.

According to police, the auto driver, K. Gunasekaran, spotted the Class III student, who was riding her bicycle back and forth on the road, three days ago.

During interrogation, Gunasekaran told the police that he went to help the girl after her cycle chain had come off in front of a restaurant. As it was being repaired, he picked up a conversation with her and pulled her cheek.

However, the girl, in her statement, said when Gunasekaran compelled her to sit in his auto, she ran away in fear and told her parents, who informed the police.

“With the help of the CCTV camera, we found a picture of his auto which was painted red in the wheel cups and we forwarded it to all citizen groups in Mylapore online and offline,” said a senior officer.

Meanwhile, Gunasekaran took the vehicle to a workshop to repair parts. One of the mechanics at the workshop informed the police.

Based on the information received from the restaurant’s security guard and others, the police narrowed down on eight autos and their drivers. They had checked five. “When the tip-off came from the mechanic, we checked the records and traced the owner. He told us that Gunasekaran had been driving his autorickshaw for the past one week,” said the police officer.

The police have charged him under Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.