OCHIRA: A 42-year-old man who sexually abused his 14-year-old step daughter has been arrested. He has been identified as Shaji of Vallikunnam. A woman civil police officer fell unconscious while recording the minor’s statement.

Shaji has a wife and two children in Vallikunnam. He was staying with another woman at Clappana for the past five years. He was sexually abusing the minor, daughter of his second wife from her first husband, for the past four years. She became pregnant once, the police said.

The police is investigating whether the child’s mother has a role in the incident. She was staying in an orphanage. He used to bring the child home every week and sexually abuse her. The incident came to light when the child refused to go home and when the child line activists intervened.

Shaji first abused the minor during her mother’s delivery. The Thrikkunnapuzha police registered a POCSO case against him. A team led by Ochira circle inspector R Prakash and sub inspector Ashraf took the accused into custody.