Police are on the lookout for a 41-year-old man, hailing from Madurai, for his suspected involvement in abduction and sexual assault on a girl, after holding captive for a day in nearby Tirupur.

The 11-year-old girl, a Class V student, had gone to a shop on Saturday evening did not return. Her parents lodged a complaint with the Tirupur South Police Station. Even as the investigation was on, the girl returned home yesterday evening by a Palladam bus, police said.

Inquiry by parents revealed that a stranger had taken her in a bus and held her captive in a house and sexually abused her. Following this, the parents lodged another complaint.

Considering the previous record, police are searching for one Murugan from Madurai, who was involved in such abduction and sexual abuse cases. The police have also released his photograph.