A 16-year-old girl with severe head injuries was found dead in a village, around 60 kilometres from Madurai on Monday. While the police have arrested a suspect, the probe is still on to establish a motive behind the alleged murder and whether other people were involved in the crime.

According to the police, the girl was visiting her grandmother in the village. On Monday morning, the girl went missing, which prompted villagers to begin searching for her. Hours later, her body was found among the bushes in a field and her head had been smashed in. The villagers then alerted the police.

Based on a preliminary investigation, the police arrested Madhavan, a 24-year-old man, in connection with the crime.

Speaking to TNM, a police officer from Sedapatty police station, where the case is being investigated, said that as of now, Madhavan seems to be the only accused and has allegedly confessed. “We are still questioning him. He said that he killed her,” the officer said. He also added that an FIR has been registered under section 302 (Murder) of IPC against Madhavan based on his confession, but more angles are being investigated.

“We are questioning if anybody else was also involved in the crime. We are yet to determine if she was just killed by the attacker or whether she was sexually abused before she was killed. We can know that only after autopsy report comes. We are waiting on the report, meanwhile Madhavan will be remanded today (Tuesday),” he added. The police also said that if the report confirms sexual abuse, provisions from the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act will also be added to the FIR since the girl was 16 years old.