"Inspector Aijaz Ahmad has been arrested following a complaint about sexual assault on a minor girl in Kokernag area of Anantnag district yesterday," a police spokesman said.
The officer has been booked under Section 354 RPC (outraging modesty) and Section 341 RPC (illegal confinement).
Ahmad was arrested after local residents of Deesu village in Kokernag came to the rescue of the girl, who raised an alarm following his attempt to rape her last evening.
Locals staged protests this morning over the issue and demanded the officer be dismissed from service, police said.
According to the complaint, the victim's father - who was friends with the police officer - had invited the latter for a cup of tea to his home.
The victim's father went to the market to buy some groceries, asking his daughter to serve tea to the guest. The officer allegedly took advantage of the situation and tried to force himself on the girl, who raised an alarm.