Two remanded to judicial custody in Coimbatore abduction, murder case: Police

Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 23 : Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the West Zone of the Tamil Nadu Police, RV Ramya Bharathi, on Saturday said that the two accused of abducting and murdering a 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
A 10-year-old girl, who had been missing since Thursday evening, was found dead in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore on Friday.
Police have arrested two accused, who have been identified as Karthi and Mohan.
Addressing a press conference in Coimbatore, IGP Bharathi said, "On May 21 at about 8:30 pm, information was received through the helpline that a 10-year-old girl who was playing outside her house had gone missing at about 5 pm. Immediately, the police personnel rushed to the spot, conducted an inquiry and registered a case regarding the missing child at about 10 pm. Five special teams were formed under the DSP Karumathampatti sub-division, Coimbatore district. Intensive search operations were undertaken to trace the missing child."
IGP further said that the accused Karthi confessed to the crime during the interrogation.
She said, "Analysis of the CCTV cameras, footage in the nearby vicinity, and the technical evidence confirmed that one, Karthi, aged about 33 years, a native of Nagapattinam district, now settled in Coimbatore, and also a neighbour who is an acquaintance of the victim's family, had taken the missing child along with him. The accused Karthi, who was hiding on the first floor of Maria Rose Garden Apartments at Kannampalayam, was surrounded by the special police team. In an attempt to escape from the police, he jumped from upstairs, resulting in fractures in his right hand and right leg. He was arrested, and during the course of interrogation, the accused Karthi confessed that he had lured the child, sexually assaulted her and subsequently murdered her."
"Further investigation also revealed the involvement of another accused, namely Mohan, aged 30 years. He had allegedly assisted the main accused, Karthi. So he was arrested and remanded to judicial custody. The accused, Karthi, has been admitted to the Coimbatore Government Medical College Hospital for further treatment. As the case pertains to the assault of a minor child, the case is being altered to include the provisions of the POCSO Act, and stringent action is being undertaken," the IGP added.
Earlier today, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expressed deep anguish over the abduction and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore, calling it a "horrific incident" and directing the police to carry out a swift and thorough investigation into the case.
In a post on X, the Chief Minister condemned the crime and assured strict action against those involved.
Parents and relatives of the victim had staged a protest on a National Highway near the Sulur Police Station, demanding justice.