Coimbatore, May 23:
Police have arrested two persons, including the prime accused, in connection with the abduction and murder of a 10-year-old girl on the outskirts of Coimbatore city, in a case that has triggered widespread shock and public outrage.
The main accused, identified as Karthik, was taken into custody following a detailed investigation into the girl’s disappearance and death. Based on his confession during interrogation, police also arrested his associate Mohan Raj for their alleged involvement in the crime. Both accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
According to police, Karthik, a neighbour of the victim, allegedly lured the Class V student while she was playing near her residence on Thursday evening. The child subsequently went missing, prompting family members and neighbours to search for her before lodging a complaint at the Sulur police station.
The girl was later found dead in a tank at Kannampalayam on Friday. Her body was shifted to a government hospital for post-mortem examination.
Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police Allatipalli Pavan Kumar Reddy visited the spot and formed special teams to investigate the case and identify all those involved.
The incident has sparked strong public anger, with residents staging a road blockade on Tiruchi Road in front of the Sulur police station on Friday night, demanding swift action. The protest led to traffic disruption for over an hour before police intervened and restored normalcy by diverting vehicles.
Further investigation is underway.
Speaking on the incident, leader of opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said that such shocking crimes, including the recent Coimbatore case, raise serious questions about public safety and policing effectiveness in Tamil Nadu. He urged the government to take immediate steps to strengthen law and order and ensure better protection for children and women.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K. Annamalai has described the murder of a 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore as “shocking” and expressed deep concern over the deteriorating safety of children in the state.
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss has strongly condemned the brutal murder of a 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore and demanded the death penalty for those involved in the crime.
Expressing shock over the incident, Anbumani said the perpetrators of such heinous offences should not be spared and called for the “maximum punishment” under law. He stated that crimes against children were increasing and raised concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state