KOZHIKODE, 5 FEB
A hotelier, who had been absconding after a woman employee jumped from the first floor of a building here while resisting his alleged sexual assault attempt, was held from Thrissur, police said on Wednesday.

The accused, Devadas, was nabbed by the Mukkam police from Kunnamkulam during a bus journey on Tuesday night.

According to police, Devadas, who runs a moderate hotel in the district, was accused of barging into the room of a woman employee at her rented house here on Saturday.

His accomplices, Riyas and Suresh, who were also with him, remain at large.

The shocking incident came to light after the woman, who sustained serious injuries from jumping from the first floor of the building to escape the assault, shared her harrowing experience with the police.

Hailing from Payyannur in Kannur, the victim had joined the hotel owned by Devadas a few months ago.

She gave the statement that the trio barged into her room when she was watching a video game on her phone, and she had no other way but to jump down the building to escape the assault.

After hearing her cries, neighbours and local people rushed to the spot and soon shifted her to a nearby hospital.