NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, OCT 9
Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu on Friday demanded justice for a minor girl, allegedly raped and killed in Dindigul district last year, following the acquittal of the accused, as the government assured it will take steps to appeal against a lower court verdict.
The girl was allegedly sexually assaulted and electrocuted last year at her home in Kurumbapatti village in Dindigul, police said, adding, one person had been arrested in connection with the incident. He was acquitted recently.
Law Minister C Ve Shanmugam described the alleged sexual assault and killing of the girl as “heinous”, even as ruling party’s alliance PMK and opposition DMK and the Congress demanded action.
With the victim being the daughter of a hair-dresser, nearly three lakh barbershops across the state downed shutters demanding justice for the 12-year-old victim.
Shanmugam said there were reports that the accused has been acquitted (by a local Mahila court).
“A minor girl has been sexually assaulted and brutally murdered. This is a heinous crime. The government will look into the matter and take all immediate steps to go for an appeal,” he told reporters at Gingee in Villupuram.
திண்டுக்கல்லில் 12 வயது சிறுமி மின்சாரம் பாய்ச்சிக் கொல்லப்பட்ட வழக்கில், சாட்சியங்களை அரசு நிரூபிக்காததால் குற்றம்சாட்டப்பட்டவர் விடுதலை ஆகியிருக்கிறார்.
தமிழகம், பெண்களுக்கு பாதுகாப்பற்ற மாநிலமாகியிருப்பதை அரசு உறுதி செய்கிறது!#JusticeForKalaivani-க்காக மேல்முறையீடு செய்க! pic.twitter.com/ruhn7KEiF6
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 9, 2020
DMK president M K Stalin, in a tweet, accused the prosecution of not properly placing the evidence in the case, leading to the acquittal of the accused. “Appeal (in the interest of) justice” for the victim, he tweeted.
Congress MPs from Dindigul and Karur, P Velusamy, and S Jothimani, respectively, and DMK legislator R Sakkarapani submitted a petition with Dindigul Collector M Vijayalakshmi, urging the government to file an appeal in the case.
கலைவாணியின் படுகொலைக்கு நீதி கேட்டு அவரது குடும்பமும், சமுதாயமும் இன்று அறவழிப் போராட்டம் நடத்துகின்றன. அவர்களின் உணர்வை மதித்து இந்த வழக்கில் மேல்முறையீடு செய்து குற்றவாளிக்கு தண்டனை பெற்றுத் தர அரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்!#JusticeForKalaivani
— Dr S RAMADOSS (@drramadoss) October 9, 2020
PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, whose party is an ally of the ruling AIADMK in the state, expressed shock over the acquittal and demanded that the state government file an appeal and ensure stringent punishment for the culprit.