Nandhini case: Goondas Act slapped on 3rd accused

Ariyalur

In a follow-up action, Irumbulikurichi police arrested four persons, including the prime accused Manikandan, Hindu Munnani union secretary and three of his friends and remanded them to judicial custody. Meanwhile, in February, the Ariyalur district collector A Saravana Vel Raj directed the police to detain both the accused Manikandan and his friend Manivannan under Goondas Act. Similarly, on Saturday, the Collector ordered the third accused in the case, S Vetriselvan of Auanthathanur also to be detained under the same Act. F o l l o w i n g this, the police served the order to Vetriselvan, who has been lodged in the central prison, Tiruchy and detained him. It may be noted that the prime accused Manikandan, a mason, developed a relationship with the victim, while she was a daily wage labourer at a common site. During the course of their affair, the girl reportedly became pregnant and insisted Manikandan to marry her. However, the mason refused and asked her to abort the pregnancy. In such a situation, Manikandan with the help of his friends kidnapped Nandhini on December 26 and reportedly raped her. Later, he allegedly murdered the minor and disposed her body in a well in Keezha Maligai village. The body was later found in a decomposed condition with her hands tied by the police.