History-Sheeter held For Rape-Murder Of Schoolgirl

Thoothukudi:Thoothukudi police on Thursday arrested a XII police officer at Vedanatham near Vilathikulam in the district. arrested a history report in connection with the sexual assault and murder of a grade 1 student.

The accused, identified as Dharma Muniswaran alias Maaveeran (37) of Sayalkudi in Ramanathapuram district, was convicted of raping and murdering a 65-year-old woman at Keelaeraal near Ettayapuram and was released on conditional bail. Police said he has flagged attendance at the mahila court in Thoothukudi as per the bail conditions fixed by the Madurai Bench of the High Court. He was arrested while he was being brought to the courthouse. Investigators said he allegedly committed the crime on the evening of March 10, while returning from signing in court. There are around 24 criminal cases against him, 17 of which are theft cases.

The arrest followed a sustained and multifaceted investigation. CCTV footage from a windmill near the scene of the crime showed a man riding a two-wheeler towards the forest area on March 10. The vehicle was later identified as belonging to a reported theft at Parthibanur in Ramanathapuram district, leading to the identification of the accused.

Superintendent of Police C. Madhan told the media that the accused was caught after a scientific and systematic investigation involving multiple lines of investigation. Investigative teams included four deputy police chiefs, six investigators and approximately 150 staff members, as well as fingerprint experts, forensic teams and a canine team.

Police analyzed 2,579 call detail records at and around the crime scene and examined 461 chronicles, including known criminals and ex-cons. Around 800 men from Vedanatham, Vepalodai and Duraisamypuram were also interrogated during the investigation. The police chief denied involvement in the case of the five men whose samples had previously been sent for DNA testing.