History-sheeter arrested for killing Dalit boy, raping girl

Chennai: A month after a horror and brutal incident involving murder of a 10-year Dalit boy after rape of his 14-year-old sister and assault of his mother, the Villupu-ram district police cracked the sensational case with arrest of a 37-year old history-sheeter.

Speaking to reporters in Villupuram, about 150km from the city, on Monday, SP S. Jeyakumar, said the accused identified as V. Thillainathan (37) a habitual offender of Mel Bhuvanagiri village, in Cuddalore district.

Jeyakumar said the special team was searching for clues and the sleuths came to know that convict Thillainathan was involved in six similar style of attack in Cuddalore, Ariyalur and Nagapattinam districts from 2009. He was convicted and served five years of jail term in Cuddalore and Tirchy central prison from 2012 to 2016.

Thillainathan was introduced to Ramu alias Padiyappa of Manampoondi village near Thirukovilur in Villupuram district. He often visited Ramu’s house till he died to ill health a year ago.

According to confession statement of Thillainathanm, he was a notorious criminal in Cuddalore district. After he was released from prison in 2016, he spread his criminal activities in Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts. He also informed that he was a sexually perverted man and used to target isolated houses alone and home alone women in early hours. He was also allegedly involved in 17 burglary cases and in most of these cases women were raped.

Earlier, Thillainathan was arrested for committing six burglary cases in Cuddalore, Ariyalur and Nagapattinam districts. He was released in June 2016.
Jeyakumar said the special team cracked the case with the help of CCTV footage and after perusing records of number of convicts. He was arrested in his native Mel Bhuvanagiri village.

The gruesome incident took place in the small hours on February 21. Following the brutal attack the boy was found dead, his minor sister was raped and his mother was attacked with iron road in the incident. The local residents found them injured in house on the next day morning. The attack against the Dalit family sent shock wave across the state. Political parties staged agitation demanding arrest of the culprits. The victim girl is undertaking treatment in Jipmer hospital, Puducherry.