Tragic: Three-year-old girl dies after sexual assault in Tamil Nadu; migrant worker arrested
Tamil Nadu child sexual assault: A heartbreaking incident has shaken Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu, where a three-year-old girl died after alleged brutal sexual assault. The tragedy has sparked widespread anger across the state. A migrant worker from Bihar has been arrested in the case.
The girl, whose family also migrated from Bihar and settled near SIPCOT industrial area in Gummidipoondi, was found abandoned in a bushy area with severe injuries. She was immediately rushed to a hospital, but could not survive and died during treatment.
Investigators revealed that the child was familiar with the accused, who allegedly lured her away from her home using biscuits before carrying out the assault.
A local resident shared what she witnessed: "the child had been playing close to her home when the accused approached her. The girl was later discovered by a woman who had wandered into the bushes and immediately recognised the seriousness of her condition".
Angry locals caught hold of the accused and handed him over to the police. Earlier, some individuals in the area were also targeted by the mod out of suspicion.
Initially, a case was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. However, after the girl succumbed to brutal injuries, murder charges are likely to be added to the FIR.
This devastating incident is not an isolated one. Tamil Nadu has seen a troubling rise in offences against women and children in recent times, a issue that dominated discussions even during the recent assembly elections.
National crime data paints a grim picture. Over 1.77 lakh cases of crimes against children were recorded across India in 2023, with more than 67,000 cases registered under POCSO alone.
DMK leader TKS Elangovan called for stronger action, urging the government to treat this as a serious social issue and ensure stricter punishment for offenders.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who took office recently, had already announced a dedicated women's safety initiative called "Singappenn", a special force aimed at better protecting women and girls. The force was formally launched just days ago.
- With inputs from agencies
