Three-Year-Old Girl Dies After Assault Near Gummidipoondi, Suspect Arrested

A three-year-old girl died on Monday morning after being sexually assaulted in Pudupettai near Gummidipoondi in Tiruvallur district. Police arrested a 19-year-old guest worker from Bihar, identified as Bipin Manjhi, in connection with the case.

The victim's parents are employed at a steel company located within the SIPCOT industrial estate. The suspect, who was employed at the same firm as the girl's father, lived in the same neighbourhood as the family.

According to the police, the incident occurred on Sunday night around 8 p.m. while the child was playing with other children on a street in Pudupettai. Her parents were at home at the time.

The suspect reportedly lured the child away under the pretext of buying her snacks from a nearby shop. He then took her to a secluded spot where the assault took place, before abandoning her in a bush and fleeing.

A local woman discovered the child and raised an alarm, which drew residents to the location. The suspect attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended by members of the public.

Officers from the SIPCOT police station arrived at the scene and placed the suspect under arrest.

The child was initially rescued and admitted to a government hospital in Kottakarai. She was subsequently transferred to the Stanley Government Hospital in Chennai, where she succumbed to her injuries on Monday morning.

Following the child's death, local residents staged protests outside the SIPCOT police station to demand strict action against those involved. Some protesters claimed that more than one person might have been involved in the crime and demanded a comprehensive investigation.

Police officers held discussions with the demonstrators to assure them that a thorough investigation was underway. Authorities confirmed the arrest of one suspect and stated that further inquiries were being conducted to explore all aspects of the case.

Local residents also raised concerns regarding the safety of children in worker settlements, noting that many parents leave for work early in the morning and do not return until evening. They requested that police personnel increase security measures in the area.