Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu), March 19 A 38-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl near Vilathikulam here, police said on Thursday.
The accused, identified as Dharma Muneeswaran, was apprehended after CCTV footage from a windmill and a stolen motorcycle found near the crime scene provided crucial leads.
The victim went missing on March 10, and her body was recovered from a secluded area the following day. The post-mortem confirmed sexual assault and fatal injuries.
The case triggered a judicial intervention by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which directed the Vilathikulam DSP to lead the investigation. The court has sought a status report by April 2.
Earlier, an Inspector and a Special Sub-Inspector were suspended for alleged negligence in registering a formal complaint when the girl's disappearance was first reported. Ten special police teams have been deployed to gather forensic and digital evidence.