Villupuram, Oct 28:
The Crime Branch-CID (CB-CID) has detained a suspect in connection with the mysterious disappearance of a seven-year-old girl near Gingee in Villupuram district. The child, Hemavathi, has been missing since October 11, and police said the man was being questioned.
The suspect has been identified as Rajadurai, a resident of Parasanthangal near Gingee. Police picked him up on suspicion and are investigating whether he was involved in abducting the girl and selling her. He was reportedly previously involved in assault cases and had been jailed.
The disappearance has triggered an extensive search involving special police teams. The search has been expanded to a 20-km radius, while investigators are examining various possible leads. The case was transferred from the local police to the CB-CID following a prolonged search and public concern.
Police said they believed there was a strong possibility that the girl was alive and expressed hope that she would be rescued. However, she remained untraced as of Tuesday, and the investigation was continuing.