Overview
- The girl went missing on Thursday evening and police recovered her body near Kannampalayam pond the following day, prompting a criminal probe into kidnapping, sexual assault and murder.
- Investigators formed five special teams and examined roughly 200–250 CCTV feeds to identify suspects known to the family, leading to the arrest of Karthik and his associate Mohan within about 24 hours.
- Police say the prime accused admitted to luring, sexually assaulting and strangling the child; Karthik fractured his arm and leg after allegedly jumping from a first-floor apartment while police closed in and is hospitalized.
- Both suspects were produced in court and remanded to judicial custody as police finish forensic work and await the post-mortem before filing charges under the POCSO Act and murder provisions.
- The case has provoked prolonged local protests, the victim’s family refused the body until assurances were given, political leaders demanded swift action, and the NCW has ordered a detailed report from the Tamil Nadu DGP within seven days which could increase pressure for a fast chargesheet and trial.