SIT formed to probe into murder of minor girl in Puducherry following outrage

The SIT is headed by Senior Superintendent of Police R Kalaivanan and has the Superintendent of Police (East) Lakshmi Sujanya as the investigating officer. Inspector of Police Ganesh and the Sub Inspector of Police Sivaprakasam would assist the SIT.

The team would work under the overall supervision of the Deputy Inspector General of Police Brijendra Kumar Yadav, the release said.

The hashtag #JusticeForAarthi has been trending on X. Netizens have been rallying for the capture of the assailants, sharing pictures of six young men. They are calling for severe action in the hope to ensure that such heinous incidents never occur again, with some even demanding a public execution.

Also Read: Body of missing school girl found in drain with hands and feet tied

Missing child found dead

The minor girl studying class V had gone missing on 2 March. The parents of the girl lodged a complaint with the police in Muthialpet block.

The girl’s body was found floating in a sack in a drain near her house in Muthialpet block in Puducherry on Tuesday, 5 March, and was retrieved by the police. It was later sent to JIPMER for post-mortem.

Volunteers and representatives of various organisations held demonstrations on Wednesday demanding deterrent action against the culprits involved in the crime.

Protests erupt against narcotics and drugs

The locals suspect that the increasing usage of cannabis (weed or ganja) among minors and teenagers might have led to the possible rape of the nine-year-old child.

Independent legislator Prakash Kumar presented a memorandum to the Director General of Police seeking steps to arrest those behind the death of the girl. He also wanted CCTV cameras to be installed in various places in Muthialpet.

The school where the girl was studying declared a holiday on Wednesday to mourn the death of the student, school sources said.

The demonstrators gathered in large numbers on the seashore behind the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Puducherry, raising slogans condemning the heinous crime and demanding capital punishment for the culprits who had abducted the child and murdered her.

The agitators also stated that the “unbridled prevalence of narcotics and drugs has been causing the outbreak of heinous crimes in the Union Territory.”

There was also a strong protest against “resto bars” functioning at various points under the garb of promoting tourism. Strict action should be taken against the drug peddlers, they demanded.

Leaders of various political parties here have also condemned the crime against the girl. The opposition DMK, the AIADMK and the Congress have called for a 12-hour bandh from 6 am in Puducherry on 8 March to protest against the “failure of the government to prevent atrocities on the girl child and also to curb drug menace.”

Also Read: ‘Habitual offender’ arrested for abduction of nomadic couple’s toddler in Kerala

Special fast-track court

Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Tamilisai Soundararajan on Wednesday, 6 March, assured that stern action would be taken against the culprits involved in the murder of the girl.

The government will constitute a special fast-track court soon to award punishment in a week’s time to the culprits involved in the sexual harassment and murder of the girl, she said.

Chief Minister N Rangasamy held a meeting with top police officials to take stock of the situation. The government also announced a solatium of ₹20 lakh to the bereaved parents.

(With PTI inputs)