Three accused, who were arrested on the charges of sexually harassing and murdering a 10-year-old girl at Kamatchipuram village near Odaipatti, were detained under the Goondas Act on the recommendation of Superintendent of Police J. Mahesh here on Thursday.
Collector K.S. Palanisamy issued necessary orders in this connection. The detainees were P. Kumaresan (19), P. Sundararaj (25) and Y. Ravi alias Robin (23) of Kamatchipuram.
All the three accused were in Madurai prison.
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Already several political parties, villagers and voluntary organisations staged a demonstration and handed over a petition to the SP seeking severe punishment to the accused and their detention under the Goondas Act.
A 10-year-old schoolgirl was found dead and her body was floating a farm well near Ambedkar Colony in Kamatchipuram on December 3. Theni Government Medical College Hospital doctors found that the girl was sexually harassed.
After investigation, the police found that the trio had abducted the girl to a nearby farm and sexually harassed her. When she died, they threw the body in the well and escaped.
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Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police advised police officers in all police stations in the district to intensify surveillance in all schools and colleges and hostels to ensure safety of students.
Women police personnel should do night rounds at girls’ hostels.
All DSPs in association with school authorities and hostel wardens should interact with students periodically and create awareness of self-defence and safety measures, he said.