Published Oct 23, 2026 | 7:13 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 23, 2026 | 7:13 PM
Hemalatha, who has been missing for over 10 days. (Special Arrangement)
The Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) has taken over the investigation into the disappearance of 7-year-old Hemalatha, a Class 2 student from Naduppattu village near Gingee in Villupuram district. Her whereabouts remain unknown despite an extensive search operation.
Hemalatha, the daughter of daily-wage worker Vadivelu and Bhavani, went missing in the early hours of October 12, hours after celebrating her birthday with her family on October 11.
More than 100 police personnel had been involved in the search operation before the CB-CID took over on Thursday, following an order from the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police.
According to her family, Hemalatha went to sleep with her parents and grandmother at around 11 pm on October 11, after celebrating her birthday. The family discovered that she was missing at around 6 am the following day.
Her relatives initially searched the house, nearby agricultural fields and a canal. When their search did not yield any results, they approached the police.
Bhavani, the girl’s mother, remains grief-stricken.
Police have employed drones, thermal surveillance equipment and sniffer dogs in a large-scale search across the surrounding areas. Fire and rescue personnel and forensic experts also assisted in the operation.
Search teams examined wells, water bodies, agricultural fields, hilly terrain and neighbouring villages.
The case records are now being handed over to the CB-CID team.
A senior police officer has reportedly said that investigators suspect the incident could have been planned. Police are examining whether a group of people could have abducted the girl and moved through nearby villages.
Investigators have examined CCTV footage from roads connecting Alampoondi, Tiruvannamalai and Naduppattu to identify any suspicious movement during the period surrounding the disappearance.
Mobile phone tower records covering the night of October 11 and the early hours of October 12 have also been analysed. Police have reportedly examined around 600 call records as part of efforts to identify potential leads and establish the movements of people in the area.
Investigators have also verified the backgrounds of people from Naduppattu and neighbouring villages, including those with criminal records and previously involved in cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The disappearance has caused concern among residents of Naduppattu and surrounding villages.
(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
