A Madampe resident was arrested today on charges of having tied his seven-year-old daughter to a tree and throwing a nest full of ants on her, police said.

Neighbours had rescued the girl after hearing her scream out in pain. Police said the girl with severe ant-bite injuries was admitted to the hospital.

Police said the father is alleged to have resorted to this inhuman act of cruelty as a form of punishing his daughter who had not gone to school.(Augustine Fernando)