10‑year‑old girl murdered in Coimbatore, two arrested

A 10-year-old girl was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, last week, an incident that has triggered widespread public outrage and a significant political response. The child went missing on the evening of May 21 while playing outside her home in the Sulur area. Her body was later discovered near a pond in a coconut grove.

Police swiftly formed five special teams to investigate. The main accused, identified as K. Karthi, a 33-year-old acquaintance of the victim's family, was arrested from an apartment hideout. Authorities said he confessed to luring the girl, assaulting her, and strangling her. A second man, Mohanraj, was also arrested on charges of assisting Karthi. Both accused reportedly sustained fractures during their apprehension.

The brutality of the crime has intensified scrutiny of the state's law and order situation. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay described the incident as horrific, inhuman, and unforgivable, pledging that such acts would not be tolerated. He spoke with the victim's family, assuring them of justice, and directed police to expedite the investigation and file charges promptly.

In response to the public anger, the Chief...