Coimbatore

Newly elected NM Sukumar on Saturday demanded strict action in the murder case of a 10-year-old schoolgirl in the Sulur area and said the accused should face the harshest punishment.

Speaking to ANI after meeting the victim’s family at ESI Hospital, Sukumar said strong measures were needed against those arrested in the case.

“Accused individuals of this kind must be encountered,” he said.

The remarks came after the body of the minor girl was recovered near a pond in Sulur, sparking outrage and protests in the area.

V Sampath also visited the hospital and met the victim’s relatives. He assured the family that the state government had initiated an investigation and promised stringent punishment for the accused.

“I have spoken with the Chief Minister and the investigation has already begun. The accused will receive the highest capital punishment,” the minister said.

Police have arrested two persons, identified as Karthick and Mohanraj, in connection with the case.

According to police officials, the girl had gone missing while playing outside her house. Her family later discovered her body near a pond, following which tensions escalated in the locality. Relatives of the victim alleged sexual assault and demanded immediate action.

Tamil Nadu Police registered a case and sent the body for post-mortem examination. Investigators suspect the child may have been strangled to death.

The body has been kept at ESI Hospital for post-mortem, while heavy police deployment has been made outside the hospital premises.

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Meanwhile, family members and local residents staged a protest on a national highway near Sulur Police Station, demanding justice for the victim. The demonstration briefly disrupted traffic before police intervened and held discussions with the protesters.