The sexual assault and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, sparked outrage across the state on Saturday, with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay assuring strict action amid opposition uproar over the incident.
Police said that two men accused of committing the crime were arrested. A 33-year-old man has been booked under the POCSO Act and other charges, including murder, for allegedly sexually assaulting the girl, while his accomplice has been arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy, news agency PTI reported.
Sexual assault and murder case
According to police, the girl was playing outside her home near Coimbatore when she disappeared on May 21 at 5 pm. The complaint was received by 8.30pm on the same day and the case was registered.
The police said they immediately formed five special teams to track down the child. CCTV footage from the area has been scanned and technology has been deployed to assist in the investigation.
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During the investigation, it was confirmed that K. Karthi, 33, a native of Nagapattinam district and an acquaintance of the victim’s family, lured the child and took him away. Later, the main accused was arrested from his hideout in a residential complex.
CM Vijay reacts
CM Vijay described the incident as “horrific” and said such inhuman and inexcusable criminal acts can never be tolerated.
“I offer my deepest condolences to the girl’s family,” Vijay was quoted as saying.
Regarding the arrest of two men accused in the case, Vijay said that the Tamil Nadu government will take strict action to ensure that those involved in such heinous acts against women and children get severe punishment under the law. He stressed that all immediate and necessary measures will be taken.
What did the police say?
The accused Karthik tried to escape when the police surrounded him in his apartment. In his attempt to escape, he tried to jump from the first floor and ended up breaking his right arm and leg. “When Karthik tried to escape, police teams surrounded him in an apartment. He suffered fractures in his right arm and leg when he jumped from the first floor. He is currently undergoing treatment at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital,” Ramya Bharati, Inspector General of Police, Western Region, was quoted as saying.
The main accused confessed to luring the girl, sexually assaulting her and then strangling her to death in a coconut grove near a pond, police said. It was also found that R Mohan, 30, instigated the commission of the crime with the help of the accused, and he was also arrested. He was placed in pretrial detention.
She told reporters in Coimbatore that the crime took place in a deserted place on a private farm adjacent to a large lake. Ramya Bharati said that the case is still under investigation and efforts are being made to file the charge sheet as soon as possible, expedite the trial, and ensure justice for the affected girl and her family.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women said it has learned of the kidnapping and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore, which is located about 500 km from the state capital Chennai, and has asked the Tamil Nadu DGP, for a detailed report on the actions taken within seven days.
