Villagers and relatives of the victim, a 17-year-old girl, block the road at V.V.D. Signal in Thoothukudi and Kurukkusalai junction on Madurai-Thoothukudi highway on March 12, 2026.
| Photo Credit: N. Rajesh
The Vilathikulam All Women Police Station Inspector V.P. Praveena was suspended from service on Thursday (March 12, 2026) on charges of failing to take timely action in registering a “missing case” filed by parents of a 17-year-old class XII girl, who was later found murdered in a forest area, near a village at Kulathur in Thoothukudi district on Wednesday (March 11, 2026).
The girl, hailing from a village which falls under the Kulathur police jurisdiction, had left her home around 6 p.m. on Tuesday (March 10, 2026) to the nearby forest area, to attend nature’s call.
When she failed to return home after an hour, her parents and relatives started searching for her but failed to locate her.
Following that, her parents went to Kulathur police station around 9:30 p.m. to lodge the complaint, where they were directed to the Vilathikulam All Women’s Police Station. However, when they approached Vilathikulam police station on Wednesday morning (March 11, 2026), the personnel reportedly refused to register their complaint and asked them to approach the Kulathur police. Finally the case was registered by Kulathur police.
Sources said the missing girl’s body was found around 300 metres from her residence in the forested area, around 3 p.m. on Wednesday (March 11, 2026). She had a visible injury on her face. Kulathur police, recovered the body and sent it for post mortem examination at Thoothukudi Government medical College and Hospital, even before the girl’s parents and relatives could arrive at the spot..
As the search started for the missing girl only after the case was registered nearly 14 hours since she had gone missing, villagers and relatives of the victim staged a road roko at Kurukkusalai-Rameshwaram highway on Wednesday (March 11, 2026) until around 11 p.m, demanding the arrest of accused and action against inspectors of Vilathikulam and Kulathur for failing to act promptly.
They resumed their agitation and blocked the road at V.V.D. Signal in Thoothukudi and Kurukkusalai junction on Madurai-Thoothukudi highway, on Thursday (March 12, 2026). Due to this, tension prevailed in the above areas and traffic was affected for some time.
The protestors said they will not receive the body until those responsible for the crime were arrested. Police held talks with protestors in Thoothukudi and explained the exact cause of death could be determined only after post mortem examination, which would help in identifying and arresting the accused.
Following this, her parents agreed and signed for a post mortem examination. However, they firmly stated they would not receive the body, until the accused were arrested.
Even though senior police officers held talks with villagers and relatives, agitation continued at Kurukkusalai junction, even after 6:30 p.m.
Sources confirmed the suspension of Inspector Ms. Parveena and said 10 special teams have been deployed to arrest the accused involved in crime.
Another source said preliminary report of post mortem examination indicated strangulation mark on the neck area and bruises on the posterior portion of the body
The Thoothukudi District Police, however, on Thursday (March 12, 2026), denied the report on a television news media that claimed the minor girl’s body was recovered in pieces after sexual assault and murder near Vilathikulam
Police clarified her body was recovered intact and said it would be known only after the post mortem report and forensic expert’s investigation whether the girl had been subjected to any sexual assault.
Published – March 13, 2026 02:17 am IST
