Farmer held for sexually harassing dalit woman

Trichy: A 40-year-old farmer was arrested near Srirangam on Tuesday for sexually harassing a 24-year-old dalit washerwoman and then abusing her with casteist slurs after she resisted his advances. The accused has been identified as B Nagarathinam, from a village near Srirangam.According to sources, Nagarathinam has been repeatedly harassing the married washerwoman from his village. She regularly laundered clothes on the banks of the Kollidam river. On Monday around 9am, while she was walking near the river, Nagarathinam waylaid her and demanded sexual favours. When she refused, he abused her using casteist slurs.The woman lodged a complaint with the police. A case was registered at Srirangam police station on Tuesday under Sections 126(2) and 75(2) of BNS for wrongful restraint and sexual harassment in public. Additional charges were invoked under Section 4 of TNPHW Act and sections of SC/ST (POA) Act. Nagarathinam was arrested on Tuesday evening and produced before a magistrate who remanded him to judicial custody. Investigation is progressing.