10-year-old girl sexually assaulted, killed in TN, 2 held
A 10-year-old girl was sexually assaulted and murdered in Coimbatore, triggering outrage across Tamil Nadu. Police arrested the main accused and an accomplice within 24 hours. Chief Minister Vijay promised strict punishment, while opposition parties accused the government of failing to maintain law and order
Coimbatore/Chennai: A 10-year-old girl was sexually assaulted and brutally killed in Coimbatore, leading to shock and outrage across Tamil Nadu, and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday promised strict action following opposition uproar.
A 33-year old man, who allegedly committed sexual assault has been arrested under POCSO and for other offences including murder and his accomplice has been nabbed for criminal conspiracy, police said.
Terming the incident as “horrific,” CM Vijay said such inhuman and unforgivable criminal acts can never be tolerated. “I share my deepest condolences with the family of the girl,” he said in a statement. Referring to the arrest of the two persons, he said the Tamil Nadu government will act firmly to ensure that those who engage in such heinous acts against women and children receive severe punishment under the law. “All immediate and necessary actions for this will be taken,” he asserted.
Opposition leaders — DMK’s Udhayanidhi Stalin, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss strongly condemned the crime and demanded tough action.
“This heinous incident has sent shockwaves across the country. The voice demanding true justice for this murder is echoing from all quarters”, Udhayanidhi, the Leader of Opposition, wrote on his social media page.
Palaniswami said: “This government must demonstrate seriousness not only in mere publicity measures regarding women’s safety but also in creating robust and effective protection systems. It must act not as a “reels” government but as a real government.” “While strongly condemning this inhuman crime, I also demand that the perpetrators be given the strictest punishment under the law, and that this government take immediate and firm actions to ensure the safety of women and children in such a way that incidents like this never occur again,” the former CM added.
A resolution adopted at a DMK Youth Wing consultative meeting here slammed the TVK government over law and order issues. Listing out the incidents of crime since the TVK came to power earlier this month, the DMK meet alleged that there were more than 30 cases of murder, dacoity, sexual assault and others. It alleged that law and order had deteriorated.
Police said the girl, who was playing outside her house under the Sulur Police Station limits near Coimbatore went missing on May 21 by 5 PM. A complaint was received by 8.30 PM that day and a case was registered.
According to police, immediately, five special teams were set up and work to trace the child was intensified. CCTV footages from the area were scanned and technology was deployed to assist probe.
During investigation, it was confirmed that the 33-year old K Karthi, a native of Nagapattinam district and an acquaintance of the victim’s family had lured and taken away the child. Subsequently, the prime accused was arrested from his hideout in an apartment complex.
West Zone Inspector General of Police R V Ramya Bharathi told reporters: “When Karthik tried to escape, police teams surrounded him at an apartment. He sustained 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.
” An official police release said during probe, the main accused confessed to luring the girl and sexually assaulted her and then strangled her to death in a coconut grove near a pond. It also emerged that R Mohan (30) abetted the crime by assisting the accused and he was also arrested. He has been remanded in judicial custody. The police official said: “The arrest was made within 24 hours of receiving the phone call. Initially, it was a girl missing case and later turned into a sexual assault and murder case,” she said.
The crime occurred at a desolate location in a private farm abutting a big lake, she told reporters in Coimbatore. Ramya Bharathi said the case was still under investigation and efforts were on to file the chargesheet at the earliest, expedite trial, and ensure justice to the affected girl and her family.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women said it has taken cognizance of the abduction and murder of the 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore, located about 500 km from state capital Chennai, and has sought from the Tamil Nadu DGP, a detailed Action Taken Report within seven days. Strongly condemning the incident, the national panel said it has directed the Tamil Nadu authorities to conduct the investigation with the utmost sensitivity and urgency.
