A special POCSO court in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district on Monday awarded a double death sentence to the man convicted in the sexual assault and murder of a 17-year-old school student, bringing a swift conclusion to one of the state’s most closely watched criminal cases.
The court convicted Dharma Muneeswaran for the rape and murder of the Class 12 student from Vilathikulam and sentenced him to death by hanging on both counts. The verdict was delivered just 77 days after the crime was reported.
The teenager had gone missing in March before her body was later discovered in a scrubland near her home, triggering outrage across the state and prompting an intensive police investigation.
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Investigators used CCTV and mobile data trail
According to NDTV, officials said the case was cracked despite the absence of CCTV cameras directly near the crime scene. Investigators formed 10 special teams and examined 98 CCTV recordings from nearby locations while analysing 2,574 phone numbers using tower dump data.
The breakthrough reportedly came from footage captured by a camera installed near a windmill, which showed a suspicious two-wheeler moving near the area around the time of the crime.
Police later found that the motorcycle’s registration number had been tampered with and discovered that the vehicle itself had been stolen.
The evidence eventually helped investigators trace the accused and build the prosecution’s case before the POCSO court.
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Prosecutor says swift verdict sends strong message
According to NDTV, Special Public Prosecutor Ellammal said the speedy conviction was possible because all agencies involved in the case worked with urgency and responsibility. She said everyone associated with the investigation and trial wanted to ensure that such crimes were dealt with firmly so that similar incidents could be prevented in the future.
The case drew significant public attention in Tamil Nadu and became part of a wider debate around women’s safety and crimes against children in the state.
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Political focus intensifies over law and order
According to NDTV, the verdict came on the same day Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay called on police and authorities to fast-track cases involving sexual crimes against women and children and ensure strict punishment through proper prosecution.
Women’s safety and law and order had emerged as major campaign themes during the recent Assembly elections, and the government has been under pressure following multiple incidents involving crimes against minors.
Opposition parties have also intensified criticism after reports of other recent sexual assault cases, including the rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl in Coimbatore.
