Balasore: Police on Wednesday arrested a 50-year-old man, who posed as a transgender, for allegedly sexually assaulting his five-year-old neighbour.

The accused, identified as Banisidhar Maharana, will be produced in court after being charged under several sections of the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act, the police said.

The man allegedly assaulted the victim on November 3, after which he fled the area. The cops nabbed him after he returned to his rented house at the village on Tuesday.

The police learnt that the man had three children and was living as a transgender.

He used to dress like a woman and had been working as a beggar at railway stations, bus stands and other public places for the past 12 years. He had moved to the village six months ago and started staying there.

The police also said the man and the victim's family members were close, but they did not know that he was living under a fake identity. The accused had access to the victim's house and committed the offence when no one was around.

Jaleswar police station inspector-in-charge Chandan Ghodai said: "The accused has confessed to living as a transgender to manage his livelihood. The medical examinations of both the accused and the victim are in progress. The girls' mother lodged an FIR on Tuesday, and we will forward him to court," he said.

Assault on women

Police on Wednesday arrested four persons on the charge of assaulting women in Daragacha village under Marshaghai police limits in Kendrapara district. The accused persons Sushant Parida, Trilochan Parida, Niraja Parida and Sudhir Parida had allegedly attacked the women over a family dispute. Police swung into action following the first information report lodged by the victims.