Chennai: Amid emotional scenes, the mortal remains of a teenage school girl, who was burn alive by two men who had links with the AIADMK, were laid to rest at her native village in Villupuram district.
Meanwhile, the two persons who allegedly murdered her have been sent to 14-day judicial custody.
The incident took place Sunday evening, when the girl, daughter of a petty shop owner Jayapal, was alone in the shop, when the duo–G Murugan (52), husband of a former Councillor, and K Kaliyaperumal–came to the shop, doused her with kerosene and set her on fire.
Both have been expelled from the party by Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, the joint coordinator and coordinator of the party, respectively.
Neighbours, hearing her screams, alerted the police. She was rushed to the VGMCH, where she succumbed today, police said. Based on the declaration given by the girl to a Magistrate, the duo were arrested.
As the girl succumbed to the burns, her statement was treated as dying declaration and murder cases were slapped against the duo.
Though District Superintendent of Police S Jayakumar said special teams were formed and police were probing several angles, previous enmity was said to be the reason for the killing.
Police quoting preliminary investigations said an eight member gang, including Murugan and Kaliyaperumal, were arrested a few years ago for assaulting Jayabal’s brother and they were subsequently enlarged on bail.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has sought a report from Villupuram District Collector within seven days, in connection with the brutal incident of two men burning alive the 15-year-old girl from a village near Thiruvennainallur due to a dispute with her father. Various political leaders have called for stringent action against the two men.