MANDYA: A 51-year-old tuition teacher was arrested for allegedly raping and murdering a 10-year-old minor girl in Malavalli, Mandya district, the police said on Thursday. The accused has been identified as Kantharaju. He worked for 15 years at the tuition centre where the victim used to attend classes.
“While the victim was returning from her tuition, the accused gave her chocolate. He then took her to a deserted area, raped her, and killed her. After killing her, he threw the body in the sump of the under-construction building next to Mysuru Road in Malavalli,” the police said.
After the girl’s parents complained to the police about their daughter going missing, a special team from Malavalli police station started investigation into the case. When they were informed about the body being found in the sump, a team headed by the Additional Superintendent visited the spot.
During the course of the investigation, they got suspicious of accused Kantharaju and arrested him. During interrogation, he admitted to the heinous crime .
Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy demanded that the police should take strict action to prevent such incidents from reccurring. JDS youth leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy demanded that the state government to immediately take appropriate legal action against the accused.
“The brutal murder of a 10-year-old school girl in Malavalli, who had come for tuition, is a heinous incident that makes civil society bow its head in shame. A criminal who commits a mistake should be severely punished and the culprit should not be pardoned,” Kumaraswamy said.
“It is shocking to know that a girl, who was going to tuition in Malavalli, was raped and murdered. Such incidents are a shame on the human race. No matter what punishment is given to the sinners who commit such vile deeds, it is not enough”, Kumaraswamy added.
Sumalatha Ambareesh, Independent MP from Mandya, tweeted, “I beg God not to give this pain to anyone again.”
“What is the minimum punishment for a criminal who commits an atrocious act on a little girl? I am committed to all measures to be taken by the police and the judiciary. The punishment given for this crime should be a warning to all, an unforgettable lesson to sociopaths. Only by preventing such heinous acts from happening again can we pray for her soul to rest in peace. This act, like the society itself, has shattered my mind,” she wrote.
Earlier, Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah also shared a statement on the issue and demanded strict action on the matter. (ANI)