14-year-old girl set ablaze by duo in Tamil Nadu dies; 2 AIADMK men held

In a horrific incident, a 14-year-old girl died after she was set on fire allegedly by two local functionaries of the ruling AIADMK in Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu.

The incident took place on Sunday and the girl was admitted to the Government Villupuram Medical College and Hospital (GVMCH) where she died on Monday.

Based on a declaration by the girl to Villupuram Judicial Magistrate-I K Arun Kumar, the district police has arrested G Murugan (52) and K Kaliyaperumal (60) -- both AIADMK functionaries. The girl, who gave the declaration on Sunday, had said the duo tied her mouth with a cloth and set her on fire.

“We are probing all angles. The incident took place on Sunday and we have taken into custody both men who were named by the girl. The investigation is on and the duo have had the previous enmity with the father of the deceased,” Villupuram District Superintendent of Police (SP) S Jayakumar told DH.

However, the duo’s “previous enmity” with the minor girl’s family is said to be the reason behind the crime. Murugan, husband of a former councillor, and Jayapal, the minor girl’s father, are understood to have had “personal enmity” for the past few years and have indulged in regular altercations.

As the incident led to a political uproar with DMK president M K Stalin demanding strict action against the ruling party functionaries, the AIADMK expelled the duo from the party. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami promised strict against those responsible and announced Rs 5 lakh solatium to the family of the girl.

Police said the incident took place on Sunday when the minor girl was alone at their home in Sirumadurai village near Thiruvennainallur in the district. Her father Jayapal owns a shop outside their house.

“Her father Jayapal and mother were not at home when the incident took place. The duo entered the house and set her ablaze after an argument. When neighbours saw smoke coming out of the house, they went inside and were shocked to see the sight. The girl was shifted to the government hospital immediately,” another police official said.

He added that the duo was arrested for attacking Jayapal’s uncle eight years ago and was out on bail. The girl’s father admitted that his family has had “previous enmity” with Murugan and his daughter was alone as he had gone to police station regarding an altercation that took place at his shop on Saturday night.

GVMCH dean Prof. Dr. R Kundavi Devi told DH that the minor girl breathed her last at around 10 am on Monday. “The girl was admitted with nearly 90 percent burn injuries and she could not be saved despite treatment. She died on Monday,” she said.