While the recent case of a 7-year-old girl being raped and murdered in Coimbatore has sent shock waves across the state, news has now emerged that the child may have been sexually assaulted in the past.
Speaking to TNM, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mani said, “There may have been chances of the child being sexually assaulted prior to this incident. We will only know when the investigations are complete.”
The body of the girl was discovered on Wednesday and police on Thursday confirmed a case of sexual assault and murder.
Mohan, State Member, Tamil Nadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights in an interview to the press said, “The police have now formed 10 teams for investigating the case. They have detained a few so far. Based on the post-mortem report, we will be able to gauge better.”
Police are also looking to see if the perpetrator might have been someone close to her or from her neighbourhood. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, the parents of the child conveyed that they suspected four men from their neighbourhood. “They would speak to the child when she walked on the street,” said the parents.
While the initial FIR was filed based on a missing complaint, the altered FIR now mentions Section 376A (Punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim) in addition to 5(l) (Whoever commits penetrative sexual assault on the child more than once or repeatedly), 5(m) (Whoever commits penetrative sexual assault on a child below twelve years) and 6 (Punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the POCSO Act.
The autopsy report confirmed rape and according to a report in The Hindu, a certificate issued by the Forensic Sciences Department of the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital cited 'ligature strangulation' and 'smothering' as the cause of death.
The victim’s family and residents of the locality began protesting outside the government hospital on Tuesday afternoon, alleging police inaction in finding the culprits.