2 booked for rape, murder of 4-yr-old

Police said Meenakshi Sundaram (60) and Rajammal (54) were booked under Sections 302 (murder) and 376AB (punishment for rape on woman under 12 years of age) of Indian Penal Code and 5(i) (penetrative sexual assault), 5(m) (penetrative sexual assault on a minor below 12 years) and Section 6 (aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.

Sundaram worked as a technician in the Bengaluru unit of the Army and retired as a havildar, said police.

On Thursday, when the child’s mother was away to drop her elder son at a private tuition centre, the accused took the girl to his house. When she found her daughter was missing, the mother lodged a complaint at Tirumullaivoyal police station. However, when she returned from the police station, she found the body of the girl, who was raped and murdered. Police said he dumped the body in the bathroom with the help of his wife Rajammal.