KULATHOOR: Man who tried to sexually assault a woman from Nagaland who was waiting for her husband was arrested. Thumba Police arrested Anish (25) who is a native of Menamkulam. The 18-year-old woman, who suffered serious injuries to her hand and face during the attack, is being treated at the hospital.

The attack took place on the service road near Kulathoor SN Nagar on Akkulam Bypass at 12:10 am on Sunday. The woman started living with her husband in a rented house near Kulathoor Mukkolakkal Junction recently. Both work in a restaurant near the bypass.

Her husband had gone home early after work. After leaving the restaurant at 11:45 pm, the woman called her husband on the phone and was waiting for him. Anish followed the woman and attacked her in the meantime. He had been following the woman on his bike since she left the restaurant. Later, after leaving the bike on the road, he came after the woman and grabbed her. After pushing the woman into the nearby drain, he tried to rape her. The woman bit the attacker's finger and screamed for her life. After slapping the woman's face, Anish rubbed the woman's face on the concrete wall of the drain, held her head on the floor and hit her hard. Anish saw her husband coming during the attack and escaped on a bike.

Thumba police reached the spot after being informed by the restaurant staff. The police and staff searched but could not find the attacker. Later, when the nearby camera footage was checked, Anish was found standing suspiciously with the locals. When the police showed the CCTV footage to the woman, she recognized Anish. His bike was also caught on camera. A team led by Thumba SHO Sivakumar took Anish into custody from his house in Menamkulam at night. Anish's muddy shirt was also recovered from the house.

The charges include attempted rape and assault causing grievous bodily harm. Fingerprint and forensic experts examined the scene. Blood samples and hair strands were collected from the drain.