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Karunanidhi orders CID to probe Coimbatore rape

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today told the assembly that the crime branch of the criminal investigation department would probe the alleged rape and murder on Monday of Shanthi, a farmer, in Coimbatore district as there are discrepancies in the reports of the police and the revenue divisional officer.

Replying to an adjournment motion sought to be moved by C Gnanasekaran (Tamil Maanila Congress), P Subbarayan (Communist Party of India) and D Mani (CPI-Marxist), Karunanidhi said a true picture would emerge only after the CB-CID investigates the matter.

Earlier, the three opposition members alleged that Shanthi, hailing from Theni in Coimbatore district, was raped and murdered by Murali, son of a mirasdar, in her hut on March 27.

Gnanasekaran said Murali also tried to pour acid on the genitals of the victim's husband, Pothiraj.

The police, instead of registering a case and arresting the culprit, were trying to persuade Pothiraj to settle the matter in the panchayat (village council), the legislators said.

Gnanasekaran and Subbarayan said people had lost their fear of the police, which is why crime is growing.

Karunanidhi retorted that it was during Congress rule in the state that people had shed their fear of the police.

The chief minister said there are only 80,000 police personnel for a population of 60 million in Tamil Nadu and it was not possible to prevent crimes of this nature.

"But whether the police acted indifferently after it was informed about the crime is a matter to be investigated. The victim's husband is also giving conflicting versions to the police about the incident," he added.

UNI

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