Chennai: Three days after a four-year-old girl died of suffocation in Puzhal, the city police on Tuesday arrested her stepfather for allegedly molesting and beating the girl to death. The accused confessed to have tortured and murdered the child.
The deceased, Rohini * ( name changed) was taken to a private hospital in the city on Sunday night due to suffocation, however, the doctors declared her dead on arrival.
According to the police, the deceased was the daughter of Bhavani (21) and her ex-husband, Ramesh. Apart from the deceased, the duo also has a one-year-old son. However, Bhavani had separated from Ramesh four months ago and married Asif (24) of Kodungaiyur and moved to a rented accommodation at Kannanpaswamy Nagar in Puzhal. Police said, Rohini suffered suffocation on Sunday night when Bhavani and Asif took her to a hospital in Red Hills. However, the doctors checked and found that Rohini had passed away. Later, the couple took the girl’s body home.
Meanwhile, Rohini’ father, Ramesh, who lives in Vysarpadi found bruises on her neck and stomach areas and alerted the police. He suspected his daughter was beaten to death by Bhavani and Asif.
The Puzhal police who registered a case sent the body of the girl to the Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem. Doctors, who examined the body, told police there were injury marks on Rohini’s neck, chest and abdomen.
Police then registered a case of suspicious death and detained the couple for interrogation. During the investigation, Asif confessed to having abused and murdered the girl and said Bhavani was unaware of the attack. He said the girl kept crying during nights and irked by that he allegedly molested and beaten her to death.
Police said Asif was involved in Ganja peddling and robberies in Kodungaiyur area. He was arrested and sent to Puzhal prison.
