A functionary of the youth wing of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), identified as Periyanayagam, has been arrested in connection with the sexual assault and murder of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl in Krishnagiri district, Tamil Nadu.
The victim was the child of Periyanayagam’s estranged live-in partner. Police reports indicate that the child developed health complications in December and was taken to a hospital, where she was declared dead. Suspicious circumstances raised by the child’s biological father prompted authorities to investigate further. A post-mortem revealed internal injuries, pointing to possible sexual assault. The final forensic report is awaited.
A senior police officer stated, “The suspect has confessed to sexually assaulting the baby. He has been arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, with murder charges also invoked.” Investigators are continuing to gather evidence and establish the sequence of events.
The case has sparked a political uproar in Tamil Nadu. Opposition leader Aadhav Arjuna, General Secretary of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), criticized the DMK government, alleging rising crimes against women and children and claiming government inaction has emboldened offenders.
In response, the DMK emphasized that stringent measures are in place to address such crimes, highlighting swift investigations and fast-tracked trials, including recent convictions in the Anna University sexual assault case.
With Assembly elections approaching in Tamil Nadu, crimes against women and children are expected to become a key political issue, fueling ongoing debates between the ruling party and the opposition.
