Vilathikulam, Mar 19
Police in Thoothukudi have arrested Muneeswaran, 30, in connection with the rape and murder of a 17‑year‑old Plus‑2 student in the Vilathikulam area, marking a crucial breakthrough in the case. The accused is now under intense interrogation as investigators match DNA and other forensic evidence collected from the crime scene.
The victim, a Class 12 student from a government higher secondary school near Vilathikulam, went missing on the evening of March 10 after telling her family she was going to a nearby wooded patch.
Her body was found the next morning in the same area with severe injuries and her clothes partially removed, indicating sexual assault and murder.
Following the arrest, local residents and the victim’s family have slightly eased their protests, but continue to demand a transparent and independent probe.
The family has moved the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court seeking a CBI‑style investigation, an independent monitoring panel, and ₹50 lakh in compensation.
The case has intensified scrutiny on women’s safety and police response in rural Tamil Nadu.