Kottayam: A young man here reportedly resorted to using pepper spray on locals after being detained for misbehaving to a girl.

The incident unfolded at the Changanassery central junction, where the young man allegedly sprayed pepper spray at traders. The traders said that the young man was detained for allegedly insulting a girl using offensive language. The police personnel later took the youth into custody.

Meanwhile, the police were criticized for arriving late at the scene. Local MLA, Job Maichil, publicly reprimanded the Changanassery police for this.