Authorities confirm abduction, sexual assault, and murder of a 10-year-old.
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu - Two individuals, K. Karthi (33) of Nagapattinam and his associate Mohan, have been arrested in connection with the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of a 10-year-old girl. The girl, a Class 5 student, went missing on Thursday evening while playing near her home in Sulur. Her body was discovered near Kannampalayam lake on Friday evening.

Medical examination has confirmed sexual assault of the child. The primary accused, Karthi, has reportedly confessed to luring the girl, sexually assaulting her, and subsequently murdering her at a coconut grove near the lake.

The police have registered a case under the POCSO Act and are intensifying their investigation. Five police teams were formed to trace the girl, and approximately 250 CCTV recordings were reviewed to identify the accused.

Community Outrage and Official Response
The incident has sparked widespread outrage. The girl's parents and neighbours had conducted searches and lodged a complaint with the Sulur police on Thursday night. Protests were held on Sulur Road, lasting until early Saturday morning.
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay expressed shock and has instructed the police to conduct a swift and thorough investigation. He assured that the government would take strong action to ensure severe punishment for those involved in such crimes against women and children. The Inspector General of Police (West Zone), R.V. Ramya Bharathi, briefed the media on Saturday regarding the developments. The National Commission for Women has also taken cognizance and sought an Action Taken Report from the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police within seven days.
Background
The victim was last seen playing near her residence on Thursday evening. A missing person report was filed by her parents later that night. The discovery of her body near the lake prompted an immediate police response and the formation of special investigation teams. Traffic along the arterial road was diverted through alternative routes during the initial search operations.
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