Ennore kid killed by playmate’s mother

In what was initially thought to be death due to molestation, Ennore police, who arrested Revathi the victim’s neighbour living in the opposite house of the victim’s, said she killed the child in an attempt to steal the silver ornaments worn by her. 

Based on Revathi’s confession, police have recovered a silver anklet and silver waist chain from a pawn broker’s shop in Ennore. Police said the woman had pawned the ornaments for Rs 2,200. Police cracked the case in less than 24 hours after they retrieved the body of the child from a dumpyard at Tiruvottiyur on Sunday morning. 

During initial inquiries, the police found that the child had been missing since Saturday evening, when she was playing in Revathi’s house. Police said the victim used to frequently come to Revathi’s house to play with her three-year-old daughter.

Police said that Revathi, during interrogation, admitted to the crime. It is said that the accused was in need of some money and decided to rob the silver ornaments worn by the child. “The child did not resist when Revathi removed the anklets, but started crying when she tried to remove the waist chain. So, Revathi used a kerchief to gag the child and she died of suffocation,” S Rajendran, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Madhavaram, said. 

Sources said that Revathi’s lover Rajesh was also present at the time of murder, and the duo later disposed the child’s body in a dustbin. Rajesh has also been reportedly picked up for questioning.

“Doctors who conducted the post-mortem told us that the chances of sexual assault were remote. However, we will get a clear picture only after getting the post-mortem report,” Rajendran said. 

This is the second incident reported in the city. Sevenyear-old Hasini was raped and murdered by her neighbour Tashvanth in Mugalivakkam.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy on Monday announced a solatium of Rs 3 lakh to the family of the girl. Palanisamy directed police to identify the perpetrators of the crime and bring them before the court of law. “I have issued orders to grant Rs 3 lakh as solatium from the CM’s Relief Fund,” he said.