Published Oct 27, 2026 | 1:15 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 27, 2026 | 1:15 PM
The police alleged that the woman concealed Muthuvel’s body inside the abandoned house to hide her son’s involvement.
Synopsis: Seven-year-old Muthuvel, who went missing from Thaniyamangalam village in Madurai district on 25 October, was found dead inside an abandoned house the following morning. Police said he had been playing with a 10-year-old boy who allegedly tightened a rope around his neck, and later collapsed at the older boy’s house. The older boy’s mother, Sandhiya, 32, was arrested for allegedly concealing the child’s body and destroying evidence.
A seven-year-old boy who went missing from Thaniyamangalam village in Madurai district was found dead inside an abandoned house on 26 October, police said. A 32-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly concealing his body to hide her 10-year-old son’s involvement in the boy’s death.
Muthuvel, son of Periyakaruppan and Sathya, went to play near the Adaikkalam Kaatha Amman Temple at around 11 am on 25 October but did not return home, police said. After an unsuccessful search, his mother lodged a complaint at Keelavalavu police station. The police registered a missing-person case and formed five special teams comprising 90 personnel to trace him.
The boy’s body was found at around 10.45 am on 26 October inside a dilapidated, unoccupied house belonging to a resident, Rajangam. The body was sent to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for a post-mortem examination.
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According to the police, Muthuvel had been playing near the temple with a 10-year-old boy from the neighbourhood when the older boy allegedly tightened a rope around his neck during play. The younger boy reportedly became dizzy while running away and struck his mouth against the temple wall, damaging his front teeth.
He later went to the older boy’s house and asked for water. He collapsed in the presence of the older boy’s mother, Sandhiya, 32, police said.
The police alleged that Sandhiya concealed Muthuvel’s body inside the abandoned house to hide her son’s involvement and destroy evidence.
The 10-year-old boy will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. Sandhiya has been arrested on charges related to the destruction of evidence and will be produced before the jurisdictional judicial magistrate, police said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
