Two AIADMK men burn girl to death in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district

Date:11.05.2020

VILLUPURAM: A 15-year-old girl, who was set on fire by two men over a property dispute on Sunday, died while undergoing treatment in Villupuram Government Medical College and Hospital on Monday. Two members of the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu have been arrested in connection with the murder.

The deceased has been identified as Jayashree, daughter of K Jayabal, 42, of Sirumadurai.

File Photo - Jayashree, 15 year old girl.

According to a senior police official, Jayabal and his brother, K Kumar, 38, owned an acre of their ancestral land. There was a dispute over the parcel of land between him and G Murugan, 57, who is a AIADMK worker.

On Sunday, Murugan’s associate visited Jayabal’s petty shop to buy cigarettes. A quarrel broke out between Jayabal’s son, Jayaraj, 17, who was at the shop, and Murugan’s friend over the land. Jayaraj sustained injuries during the quarrel.

Following this, Jayabal filed a police complaint against Murugan’s friend. Irked, Murugan and his close associate, K Kaliyaperumal, who is the AIADMK branch secretary in Sirumadurai village, set Jayabal’s daughter on fire and fled the spot. The incident happened at the shop.

Villupuram superintendent S Jayakumar said that the victim sustained more than 95% burn injuries. Based on a complaint filed by Jayabal, the Tiruvennainallur police registered a murder case against Murugan and Kaliyaperumal and further investigation were on.

In 2013, over the same property issue, Murugan along with seven others chopped a hand of Jayabal’s brother, Kumar. The case is under trial in a Villupuram court.

A 15-second video of Jayashree giving her dying declaration was widely shared on social media.

Political leaders like DMK president M K Stalin, VCK party’s Villupuram parliamentary constituency MP D Ravikumar and PMK leader S Ramadoss condemned the murder.

Stalin termed the murder as barbarous and inhumane. He demanded that the police ensure both the accused are punished.