Public anger erupted in Vedanatham village in Thoothukudi district when DMK MP Kanimozhi visited the family of a 17-year-old schoolgirl who was allegedly sexually assaulted and brutally murdered near Vilathikulam. When Kanimozhi arrived along with Tamil Nadu Minister Geetha Jeevan to offer condolences, a large crowd of women and youth surrounded them and fired a volley of questions, demanding to know why arrests had not been made and why the MP had come only after public outrage intensified.
The incident follows the recovery of the dismembered body of the Class 12 student on March 11 after she had earlier been reported missing. The brutal killing has triggered outrage across Tamil Nadu, with protests by locals and students demanding swift action against those responsible. Residents accused the authorities of initially failing to register a missing person complaint and alleged that the police had cast aspersions on the character of the schoolgirl.
For the first time in Tamil Nadu, people vented their anger against an elected representative by shooting a volley of questions about her concern for the people of Tamil Nadu, saying she had time to attend candle marches in Manipur and BJP-ruled states when sexual assaults happen.
A 17-year-old Class 12 student was allegedly sexually assaulted and brutally murdered near Vilathikulam in Thoothukudi district, triggering outrage across Tamil Nadu. The victim, who had been reported missing earlier in the week, was found dismembered on March 11, with her remains recovered by police and sent for post-mortem examination.
Tamil Nadu in TEARS 😭 17-Year-Old Girl BRUTALLY MURDERED Near Thoothukudi – And DMK Government CAUGHT SLEEPING?!
Farmer parents begged Vilathikulam All-Women Police – got only DELAYS + HUMILIATION! Locals BLOCKED ROADS demanding JUSTICE! Finally cops woke up – suspended… pic.twitter.com/RIWgITuYYR
— Nadodi Mannan 🛕🚩🇮🇳 (@NadodiMannanYt) March 13, 2026
DMK MP Kanimozhi, sister of CM MK Stalin and elected from the Thoothukudi Lok Sabha constituency, did not visit the district when it faced floods and did not offer any relief to them, incurring the displeasure of locals.
She and TN Minister Geetha Jeevan visited the spot where people had been holding protests demanding the immediate arrest of the culprit/s involved in the brutal murder and alleged sexual assault of the 17-year-old in the district two days ago when she went out to attend nature’s call. Police did not register a missing person complaint; instead, they cast aspersions on the character of the schoolgirl.
BREAKING : THOOTHUKUDI RAPE AND MURDER
Is this what you call women’s safety, Mr. Stalin?
A father went to the police station to report that his daughter was missing. Instead of taking immediate action, he was made to wait and was told to come back the next day at 10 a.m. The… pic.twitter.com/SgeijTzsyE
— Prasanna OG (@OGprasanna) March 12, 2026
After protests from the public and BJP and AIADMK, police found the body. The autopsy report says she was strangulated and bruises were found on her body. The parents refused to receive the body despite threats from police officials to disperse from the area and end their protests. The victim’s family wanted the arrest of the real culprits instead of arresting someone to mollify public anger as a stop-gap arrangement.
உங்களது திமுக ஆட்சி இவ்வளவு கேவலமாக இருக்கையில், உங்களை மட்டும் எப்படி மக்கள் வரவேற்பார்கள்? விரட்டிதான் அடிப்பார்கள், @KanimozhiDMK அவர்களே!
இன்னும் சில தினங்களில், திமுகவின் ஆட்சியையும் தமிழ்நாட்டை விட்டே ஓட ஓட விரட்டி அடிப்பார்கள் தமிழக மக்கள்! pic.twitter.com/e1OO4A3rI9
— BJP Tamilnadu (@BJP4TamilNadu) March 13, 2026
There have been posters in the city saying: “Sister! Sister! Kanimozhi sister! Are you not seeing the tears of the people of your constituency? You were enraged for Manipur but are not showing the same concern for your constituency! Your true identity has come out. Your women’s liberation drama is over. We need justice for the murdered girl! Justice for the sexually assaulted girl!”
When Kanimozhi and TN DMK Minister Geetha Jeevan, visited Vedanatham village, a mob of women and youth blocked and surrounded them. A large crowd, including many women and young people, blocked their path and engaged in a heated argument, questioning the purpose of their visit. Their volley of questions directed at Kanimozhi included: “Where were you all yesterday? Why have you come only now? Why haven’t those responsible been arrested yet?”
Sensing the mood of the public, police escorted them to their vehicle before the situation went out of control.
SHOCKING! 😱 Villagers EXPLODE on DMK MP Kanimozhi in Thoothukudi – They REFUSED to hand over the body of a brutally murdered Class 12 girl & BLOCKED highways screaming for JUSTICE!
Teen girl vanishes March 10… police IGNORED family for HOURS… body found next day with… pic.twitter.com/D4kqmMfaWH
— Nadodi Mannan 🛕🚩🇮🇳 (@NadodiMannanYt) March 13, 2026
BJP IT Wing functionary Karthik Gopinath, in a post on X, said: “People have started questioning the conspicuous absence of MP KanimozhiDMK, known for her candlelight marches! When in opposition, they were flag bearers of women empowerment, and while in power they are an inefficient lot. People have had enough!”
People have started questioning the conspicuous absence of the MP @KanimozhiDMK, known for her candle light marches ! When in opposition, they were flag bearers of women empowerment and while in power they are an inefficient lot . People have had enough ! pic.twitter.com/lrOK382Kxq
— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) March 13, 2026
School students also held protests in the district demanding the immediate arrest of those involved in the heinous crime of raping and killing their schoolmate.
தூத்துக்குடி மாவட்டத்தில் மாணவி பாலியல் வன்கொடுமை செய்து கொலை செய்யப்பட்டத்தை கண்டித்தும், குற்றவாளிகளை உடனே கைது செய்து நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வலியுறுத்தி போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்ட மாணவர்கள் … pic.twitter.com/A70mmvs1co
— Vîjäy கழகம்™ 🇪🇸 (@vj_kazahagam) March 13, 2026
The rising crime against women and children echoed in Parliament, where AIADMK member Inbadurai spoke in detail amidst DMK and its allies shouting at a high pitch.
தமிழ்நாட்டில் பெண்கள் பாதுகாப்பு குறித்து மாநிலங்களவையில் பிரச்சனை எழுப்பிய அ.தி.மு.க. எம்.பி. இன்பதுரை.. எதிர்கட்சிகள் கூச்சல்#RajyaSabha | #ADMK | #InbaduraiMP | #TamilNadu | #WomenSafety | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/urhZc4oSbH
— Polimer News (@polimernews) March 13, 2026
The TN BJP has given a call for a massive protest in all district headquarters on March 17, accusing the DMK government of failing to protect women and calling it an “inefficient administration”. A post on X listing sexual assault cases in Tamil Nadu said: “DMK government has failed to protect TN women.”
பெண்களின் பாதுகாப்பை உறுதிப்படுத்த இன்னும் இதுபோல் எத்தனை சம்பவங்கள் தேவை அரசிற்கு?
தமிழகம் தவறான முன்னுதாரணமாகிவிடக் கூடாது என்பதை அரசு கவனத்தில் கொள்ள வேண்டும். pic.twitter.com/fBmBnzWRe2
— Ethirajan Srinivasan 🇮🇳🚩 (@Ethirajans) March 13, 2026
AIADMK IT Wing also posted an image of recent sexual assaults in Tamil Nadu.
இப்படியொரு மானெங்கெட்ட ஆட்சி நடக்குது தமிழ்நாட்டில்
கேட்டா எண்ணிக்கையைத் தூக்கிக்கிட்டு வர்ரானுக, கேடுகெட்டவனுக pic.twitter.com/YXiv3Kf5J5
— Dhanabal Arumugam (@Dhanaakutty1) March 12, 2026
The parents of the victim are trying to move the High Court seeking a CBI probe into the case. As a face-saving measure and to divert attention, the Tamil Nadu top police brass and Home Secretary met the press with data that critics say lowered the crime rate.
In response, TN BJP leader Annamalai issued a detailed rebuttal with figures. He said: “Yesterday, the DMK govt made the Home Secretary of Tamil Nadu conduct a press briefing. We do not trust the data published by the Home Secretary on the Murder & Rape crimes for the years 2024 and 2025. The reason being that in 2021 the reported murder cases as per NCRB were 1686, but the Home Secretary says that the number of murder cases reported in Tamil Nadu in 2021 was 1597. When you can manipulate already published data submitted by the Govt of TN in 2021, why should anyone trust the data given by you for 2024 & 2025 that you have been withholding from publishing to date? Why is the Chief Minister responsible for the Home & Police departments hiding behind bureaucrats?”
Yesterday, the DMK govt made the Home Secretary of Tamil Nadu to conduct a press briefing.
We do not trust the data published by the Home Secretary on the Murder & Rape crimes for the years 2024 and 2025. The reason being that in 2021, the reported murder cases as per NCRB were… pic.twitter.com/bUtTwMIWCh
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) March 13, 2026
There is no respite from crimes against women and girls. Three youths abducted a woman running a petty shop (kiosk) for her livelihood and gang-raped her in Thiruvallur district. She had been living alone after a failed marital relationship with her husband. When she was walking along the lakeside, the gang abducted her. Based on a complaint, three persons have been arrested.
#BREAKING || பெண் கூட்டு பாலியல் வன்கொடுமை | NewsJ#tiruvallur #harassmnet #rape #dmkfails #mkstalinfails #TamilNadu #dmkgovt #newsj pic.twitter.com/HAccdh4YBG
— NewsJ (@NewsJTamil) March 13, 2026
In another incident, tailor Syed Inaiyadullah was arrested for sexually harassing a college girl in Kodungaiyur. When she visited his shop before the Pongal festival, he allegedly harassed her. He was arrested following a complaint.
#NEWSUPDATE || கல்லூரி மாணவிக்கு பா*யல் தொல்லை – டெய்லர் கைது | #Harassment | #Student | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/KFzih32bTc
— Polimer News (@polimernews) March 13, 2026
A netizen wrote: “Day begins as usual with a horror… 3 arrested for gang-raping a woman in Gummidipoondi. People of Tamil Nadu should never forgive this DMK government for their disastrous governance.”
Day begins as usual with a horror…
3 arrested for Gang raping a women in Gummidipoondi 😱
People of Tamil Nadu shud never forgive this DMK Government for their disastrous Governance…#DMKFails pic.twitter.com/zs64VS7x4G
— Iʀsʜᴀᴅ (@irshad5005) March 13, 2026
A 16-year-old boy was seriously injured after he was allegedly attacked with a sickle by a Class 11 student in Munnarkoyil near Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district. The victim, a school dropout working in a flower-weaving shop, had reportedly been involved in a verbal altercation with a Class 11 student from the same area. After a heated argument, the student allegedly returned with a sickle and attacked the flower-weaving boy multiple times before fleeing the scene.
Critics say: “Under Dravidian Model governance there is no safety for women and children. Criminals are roaming free. An anarchy-like situation prevails in Tamil Nadu. We are waiting for the polls to end their dynastic, most corrupt, autocratic and inefficient regime, counting the days.”
Relatively, in another incident on 10 March 2026, 30 boys and 13 girls of a government school in Coimbatore fell ill after eating food contaminated by a lizard and were rushed to hospital. Reports say suspected food poisoning occurred after consuming lunch at a Coimbatore Corporation Middle School in Kavundampalayam. It was alleged that a lizard had fallen into the food served to the students.
கதறிய பெற்றோர்கள் கண்டு கொள்ளாத திமுக அரசு🤦♂️
கோவை பள்ளியில் பல்லி விழுந்த உணவை உண்ட 43 குழந்தைகள் மருத்துவ மனையில் அனுமதிப்பு!#TVK #vijay #jananayagan #whistle #TVKVijay pic.twitter.com/jvX68petvG
— Rolex (@Rolex3839xr) March 11, 2026
“The government is not bothered about the worsening law and order and rise in crimes. They watch cultural programmes oblivious to the same,” says a netizen.
– 43 குழந்தைகள் Hospital ல் அனுமதி.
– 2 வயது , 7 வயது, 14 வயது பெண் குழந்தைகளுக்கு பாலியல் வண்கொடுமை
– 60 வயது மூதாட்டிக்கு பாலியல் வண்கொடுமை
– தினமும் 2 படுகொலைகள்.
– நாங்குநேரி படுகொலை
ஆனா முதலமைச்சர் 😭😭😭https://t.co/FYvyhXJc39
— Prasanna OG (@OGprasanna) March 11, 2026
Another netizen questions: “How many TV channels in TN actually telecast this news? This is the sad state of media in TN… Guess ANI, which is not a local news channel, actually covered this and some small-time news channels. If not for social media we wouldn’t have come to know this news.”
How many TV channels in TN actually telecasted this news?
This is the sad state of Media in TN…
Guess ANI channel which is not a local news channel actually covered this and some small time news channels.
If not for social media we wouldn’t have come to know this news.… pic.twitter.com/ks7jkTcldA
— Vasanth Lakshman (@VasanthLakshman) March 10, 2026
Yet another wrote on X: “Since MK Stalin became CM, his government has been running a massive PR machine. Expensive ads. Pottral awards. ‘Semma’ speeches. But behind that smile there’s a dirty reality they don’t show you. School kids eating lizard-fallen food. Vomiting. Hospitalised. We compiled the data. From 2021 to 2026, across 19 incidents, 403 students suffered food poisoning in government schools. Kallakurichi – 47. Coimbatore – 43. Tiruvannamalai – 37. Viluppuram – 27. This is not a mistake. This is a pattern. This is DMK’s total negligence…”
Since MK Stalin became CM, his government has been running a massive PR machine. Expensive ads. Pottral awards. "Semma" speeches. But behind that smile, there's a dirty reality they don't show you.
School kids eating lizard-fallen food. Vomiting. Hospitalized. Again and again.… pic.twitter.com/WY4aDsBIxo
— Karthik (@skarthikdotin) March 10, 2026
Food poisoning, poor-quality food, and lizards found in food have been recurring incidents in Tamil Nadu. There have been similar incidents in the past. A few months ago, short video clips of a lizard “relishing” the sambar served at government schools as part of the midday meal and breakfast scheme circulated widely on social media. Cockroaches and rats were also found in food given to students. A couple of days ago, 33 students fell ill due to suspected food poisoning at a government model school hostel near Cuddalore.
