A visit to a private hospital for what appeared to be severe stomach pain led to the discovery that a 16-year-old schoolgirl was pregnant.

She reportedly gave birth while receiving treatment, prompting a police investigation and the arrest of a 31-year-old man in Malappuram on Saturday (September 19).

The girl’s parents rushed her to a private hospital after she complained of sudden, severe abdominal pain. During an examination, doctors found that she was pregnant.

The hospital authorities alerted the police, who recorded the statements of the girl and her parents. Acting on information provided by the girl, police identified and arrested a man named Jithin.

The police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Jithin was produced before a court and remanded in custody.