Malappuram: Police arrested a 53-year-old migrant worker on Friday for alleged sexual abuse of a 5-year-old in Nilambur here. The apprehended is Ali Hussain, a native of Odisha.

According to police, Hussain, the neighbour of the girl, lured her with the promise of giving chips and took her to his home on Thursday night.

The family learned of the incident when they questioned the girl after she returned home crying. They immediately took her to Nilambur District Hospital, where hospital authorities informed the police.

Neighbours came to know about the incident shortly after it occurred. By the time they arrived, Hussain had fled the scene but was later found hiding in a scrap godown. Nilambur police tracked Hussain down by tracing his mobile tower location.