What happened in Vilathikulam? Class 12 student sexually assaulted and murdered
A 17-year-old Class 12 student from a Government Higher Secondary School in Vilathikulam, Thoothukudi district, went missing on the evening of March 10 after stepping out to a nearby forest area behind her house. Her father Subburaj and relatives launched a search operation. On March 11, her body was discovered in a scrubland with visible injuries on her face, triggering widespread protests by locals and opposition leaders.
Family turned away — police refused to register complaint on the night of the incident
When the parents approached Kulathur police station the same night, they were redirected to the All-Women Police Station in Vilathikulam. There too, the complaint was allegedly refused and derogatory remarks were reportedly made against the victim. The family was forced to shuttle between two stations citing jurisdictional issues before the complaint was finally registered at Kulathur. The delay in filing the case drew heavy public criticism and demands for action against the errant policemen involved.
A single photograph cracked the case motorcycle number plate leads to breakthrough
Ten special teams were deployed but no leads emerged initially. The key break came from a local resident named Solaiappan, who had casually photographed a motorcycle with a Ramanathapuram-series number plate near the forest area. Initially unaware of its significance, he later shared it with police. The number plate was traced to the accused’s two-wheeler, which led to his identification. Over 450 individuals were interrogated directly and through digital methods across the district.
38-year-old with 30 prior cases — was out on bail from a 2020 rape-murder conviction
Dharma Muniswaran alias Maveeran, 38, a native of Sayalkudi in Ramanathapuram district, was arrested on March 20 — nearly 10 days after the crime. He had a history of involvement in nearly 30 criminal cases and had been awarded life imprisonment in a 2020 rape-cum-murder case involving an elderly woman from Ettayapuram. He was out on bail when this crime occurred. During interrogation, he admitted to hiding in the forest that day, waiting for women going to field work.
10 days of relentless protest — family refused to accept the body until justice was promised
From the day the body was found, the victim’s family and relatives went on protest and refused to take possession of the body, which remained at Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital after the post-mortem. Local villagers and opposition party members joined in, calling the incident a reflection of a failed system. The protests subsided only after the accused was arrested on March 20, following which the family accepted the body and called off their agitation.
Justice in 75 days — POCSO court awards double death penalty to the lone accused
Within 75 days of the incident, the POCSO special court in Thoothukudi delivered its verdict. Second Additional Court Judge Ms. Preetha found Dharma Muniswaran guilty on two counts — sexual assault and murder — and sentenced him to death on each, resulting in a double death penalty. Described as a “blind case” with no eyewitnesses, the conviction was secured entirely through scientific investigation. Inspector-General of Police Vijayendra Bidari praised the teams, noting the accused was a total stranger to the village and no one had seen him at or near the scene of the crime.