Punalur police on Saturday arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl onboard the Palaruvi Express.

The accused, identified as Sanish, a native of Kollam, was apprehended by the police following the timely intervention of a co-passenger. According to authorities, Sanish is a repeat offender with a prior criminal record, including a history of attempted murder.

The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday morning while the victim and her family were travelling in a general compartment. The child was part of a family from Tamil Nadu who were returning home after completing a pilgrimage in Kerala. The girl was sleeping on the floor next to her grandfather when the accused picked her up and carried her to a different compartment to commit the assault.

The crime was brought to light by a vigilant woman seated nearby. Noticing the suspicious activity, she managed to record a video of the incident on her phone and immediately forwarded the evidence to the authorities, helping police to intercept the train and take the suspect into custody.