Man Arrested in Disturbing Vilathikulam Case

In a shocking development, a 38-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the heinous rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl near Vilathikulam. The suspect, identified as Dharma Muneeswaran, was apprehended following crucial evidence obtained from CCTV footage and a stolen motorcycle found at the crime scene.

The teenager, who went missing on March 10, was tragically discovered dead in a secluded area the next day. A post-mortem examination confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted and suffered fatal injuries. The incident has led to a judicial intervention by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, which has subsequently instructed the Vilathikulam DSP to lead the investigation.

The court has demanded a status report by April 2. Meanwhile, an Inspector and a Special Sub-Inspector have been suspended for allegedly failing to register a formal complaint when the girl's disappearance was initially reported. Ten special police teams are actively engaged in collecting forensic and digital evidence in a bid to swiftly bring the perpetrator to justice.