THOOTHUKUDI
A five-year-old girl of Keela Thattaparai in the district was found dead under suspicious circumstances in her home on Wednesday evening.
The body, found in the kitchen, was partially charred and the child’s nose was bloodstained.
Superintendent of Police P. Mahendran and other police officials inspected the spot and held inquiries. Investigation suggested that a 14-year-old boy, the victim’s neighbour, sexually assaulted and murdered her. The boy entered the house when the girl was alone, sexually assaulted her, poured kerosene on her and set her ablaze, police sources said.
The victim’s father S. Chinnathambi (43), a casual labourer, and mother had gone out when the incident occurred.
The boy used to frequent the house of the victim. Thattaparai police initially registered a case under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (suspicious death) based on a complaint filed by Mr. Chinnathambi.
On Thursday, the police altered the case, invoking Section 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.
The SP said the accused was arrested and further course of action would be taken as per the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
