An elementary school headmaster of a village near here kidnapped and married a 14-year-old girl, the same age as his daughter recently, police said.
The headmaster Arumugam (42) was arrested on Saturday after a complaint filed by the girl's parents.
Police took the headmaster into custody for questioning after some residents of Villiapathiri village said they had seen the girl with him on February 23,the day she was reported missing.
They said Arumugam confessed to kidnapping the girl and detaining her in a lodge. He then took her to a temple in Madurai and married her, after which he helped the parents 'search' for the girl.
Villagers were shocked on hearing the news as he has a daughter of the same age as the girl and a son, they said.
The Virudhungar Judicial Magistrate has sent the headmaster and the girl for medical examination.
Arumugam was remanded to judicial custody last night.