Thiruvananthapuram: Shafeek Al Qassimi, chief Imam of the Tholicode Muslim Mosque and a member of the Kerala Imam's council was arrested in Madurai, Tamil Nadu for the alleged sexual assault of a minor girl.

The Imam was slapped with Section 7 and 8 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offence(POCSO) Act by the Vithura Police.

It is alleged that Shafeek attempted to sexually assault a 15-year-old girl. Earlier, the Imam was caught by a group of women labourers, who were in the forest where the Imam had brought the girl.

The Jama Ath committee had suspended the Imam soon after the allegation. The Jama Ath president has issued a 15-minute audio clip that confirms the Imam’s involvement.

Following this, separate investigations were launched by members of the Tholicode Muslim Mosque and the Centre for Film Gender and Culture Studies, a Thiruvananthapuram-based group working for gender justice and child rights said. The Imam, who is accused of sexually assaulting a minor, is absconding. 

Earlier, the  Imam's relative, who helped him, was also arrested by the police.