49-year-old Mohammed Sharief Siddique was arrested on Sunday by the Surathkal police in Mangaluru for sexually assaulting a 27-year-old Christian woman for many years after her mother had sought the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) help citing police inaction.

Siddique, a resident of Chokkabettu, had been sexually assaulting the woman for four years after getting her addicted to drugs. The mother had earlier written a letter to the VHP seeking their intervention and stated that the police and her community leaders were not helping her.

“Siddique used to take my daughter from her home. He along with his friends kept her with them for days. I have complained to the police as well as our religious leaders but no action has been taken yet.

“As per my information, Siddique has already married thrice and he has ruined my daughter’s life as well,” the mother said. Her daughter has gotten addicted to drugs and her health condition has worsened, she further stated. The woman sought help from Vishwa Hindu Parishad to protect her and her daughter from Siddique.

After the letter went viral and VHP raised the matter, the Surathkal police registered a case under Sections 354 and 506 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and arrested Siddique. City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said that he has been sent to 14 days of judicial custody.

A police officer said that Siddique was giving the victim sedatives. The victim’s mother had earlier complained to the Mangaluru south and Urwa police and they failed to act on it, which led to her seeking the VHP’s help, the police officer added.