Coimbatore minor girl murdered: Two arrested within 24 hours in Sulur case
Synopsis
A 10-year-old girl kidnapped, assaulted, and murdered near Sulur in Coimbatore — and both accused arrested within 24 hours. Police reviewed 250 CCTV clips and deployed five special teams. The primary suspect broke his leg fleeing arrest. POCSO charges are imminent, and the case has shaken Tamil Nadu.
Key Takeaways
A 10-year-old girl was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered near Sulur, Coimbatore on Thursday evening .
Her body was found in bushes near Kannampalayam pond the same night.
Two accused — Karthi, 33 , and Mohanraj, 30 — were arrested within 24 hours of the case being registered.
Police reviewed approximately 250 CCTV footage clips and formed five special investigation teams .
Karthi, the primary accused, broke his leg and hand while attempting to flee and is under treatment at Coimbatore Government Hospital .
Charges are to be filed under the POCSO Act ; a full post-mortem report is awaited.
Two men have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder of a 10-year-old girl near Sulur in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, police confirmed on Saturday, 23 May. The arrests came within 24 hours of the case being registered, following an intensive investigation that included the review of approximately 250 CCTV footage clips and the deployment of five special investigation teams.
How the Crime Came to Light
The victim, who lived with her parents in a village near Sulur, had stepped out to a nearby shop on Thursday evening and did not return home. After a prolonged search by her family proved futile, her parents filed a complaint at the Sulur police station. The same night, the body of a girl was discovered in the bushes on the banks of the Kannampalayam pond near Sulur. Subsequent investigation confirmed she had been kidnapped, sexually assaulted, murdered, and her body dumped at the location.
Who Was Arrested
The primary accused has been identified as Karthi, 33, a native of Nagapattinam who had been residing at Pallapalayam near Coimbatore. According to police, Karthi was a daily wage earner who was known to the victim's family and lived in the vicinity. His accomplice, Mohanraj, 30, also a daily wage earner, was arrested alongside him. While attempting to evade arrest, Karthi reportedly jumped from the top floor of the building where he was hiding, sustaining fractures to his leg and hand. He is currently receiving treatment at the Coimbatore Government Hospital.
What Investigators Said
Inspector General of Police (Western Region) R.V. Ramya Bharathi told reporters that immediate action was initiated upon receipt of the complaint. Five special investigation teams were constituted, and the accused were identified through a meticulous examination of around 250 CCTV recordings from the area. Authorities stated that a full post-mortem report is awaited, and strict action will be pursued against both accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Government Response and Next Steps
Officials confirmed that steps have been taken to extend government assistance to the affected family. A charge sheet is expected to be filed shortly. This case has sent shockwaves across Tamil Nadu, drawing attention to child safety in semi-urban areas. Notably, the swift arrest — within a single day — reflects the pressure on law enforcement to demonstrate accountability in crimes against minors, where public outrage has historically prompted both faster action and political scrutiny.
Point of View
But the case surfaces a recurring vulnerability: the accused was known to the victim's family and lived nearby, a pattern seen in a disproportionate share of child sexual assault cases in India. The POCSO Act carries stringent provisions, yet conviction rates remain a concern — swift arrest must translate into airtight prosecution. Tamil Nadu's political class will face pressure to respond beyond condolences, particularly on child safety infrastructure in semi-urban and rural areas where surveillance and support systems remain thin.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Coimbatore minor girl murder case?
A 10-year-old girl from a village near Sulur in Coimbatore district was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered on Thursday evening. Her body was recovered from bushes near the Kannampalayam pond the same night, and two men were arrested within 24 hours.
Who are the accused arrested in the Sulur case?
The primary accused is Karthi, 33, a native of Nagapattinam who lived near Coimbatore and was known to the victim's family. His accomplice, Mohanraj, 30, was also arrested. Both are daily wage earners, according to police.
What charges will be filed against the accused?
Police have confirmed that strict action will be taken under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. A charge sheet is expected to be filed shortly, pending the full post-mortem report.
How did police identify and arrest the suspects so quickly?
Five special investigation teams were formed immediately after the case was registered. Police reviewed approximately 250 CCTV footage clips from the area to identify the accused, leading to arrests within 24 hours of the complaint being filed.
What is the current status of the primary accused Karthi?
Karthi attempted to escape by jumping from the top floor of the building where he was hiding. He sustained fractures to his leg and hand in the fall and is currently undergoing treatment at Coimbatore Government Hospital under police custody.
