CHENNAI: AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami launched a scathing attack on the DMK government on Thursday over the alleged sexual assault and murder of a schoolgirl in Thoothukudi.

In a statement, the former Chief Minister said the incident involving a girl from Vedanatham village has shocked the entire state and raised serious concerns about law and order under the leadership of Chief Minister M. K. Stalin.

Palaniswami alleged that crimes against women are becoming increasingly frequent in Tamil Nadu, arguing that this latest tragedy reflects the government's inability to ensure the safety of women and girls.

He strongly criticised the police response, claiming that when the girl’s parents approached the authorities after she went missing, they were met with negligence rather than immediate action. "Instead of launching a prompt search, the police even cast suspicion on the missing girl," he alleged.

The AIADMK leader noted that the victim’s relatives have been staging protests demanding swift justice. Questioning reports that a DMK MLA participated in peace talks with the family, Palaniswami asked why the culprits have not yet been identified and arrested.