Daily wage labourer gets 10-year RI for sexual assault of toddler

According to the prosecution, Sathyaraj (32), a daily wage worker from Kamatchipuram in Reddipalayam in Thanjavur came to Mariammankoil in Manojippatti area on June 4, 2012. He saw the girl child playing outside the temple, and lured her offering sweets. Her parents were inside the temple attending a marriage.

Sathyaraj then the girl to a cremation ground nearby and sexually assaulted her. However, after the child swooned, he panicked and tried to leave her at a housing settlement nearby. Even as he was trying to escape after leaving the child, her relative who was searching for her, spotted Sathyaraj with the child. The child was rescued and admitted to hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, based on the complaint by the mother of the victim, the Thanjavur All-Women police registered a case of kidnapping and attempt to rape against him. The Mahila court which heard the case sentenced Sathyaraj to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment on Thursday. Subsequently, he was lodged in the central prison, Tiruchy.

Carpenter sentenced tolife for murder

Kumbakonam court awarded life imprisonment to a carpenter for murdering a farmer over a land dispute.

R Mahendran (40), a farmer from School Street in Mathur near Kumbakonam, and A Rajarathinam (33), a carpenter from Ammankoil street of the same village, had land dispute. On July 7, 2012, a scuffle broke out between them over the issue. Following this, Rajarathinam attacked Mahendran with iron pipe and sickle. Mahendran suffered grievous injuries and died, police said.

The police registered a case of murder and arrested Rajarathinam. After the hearing of the case was concluded, the Additional Sessions court in Kumbakonam awarded life sentence to Rajarathinam on Thursday.