Tamil Nadu: Youth attacked for chatting with minor girl dies

COIMBATORE: A 21-year-old youth who was assaulted by three men while he was chatting with a 14-year-old girl at her house at Suleswaranpatti near Pollachi died without responding to treatment at the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) early Sunday morning.
The accused were the girl’s 16-year-old brother, her father, and her uncle. Police said the trio attacked R Gowtham of Alagappa Colony at Chinnampalayam near Pollachi on Friday night.
Gowtham, a labourer, had befriended the Class IX student, and had met her at her house when she was alone on Friday. Her mother, who found the duo together, locked them inside the house and informed her husband. The three accused reached the house and attacked the youth using wooden logs and a cricket bat, causing head injuries.
The youth was admitted in an unconscious condition to the CMCH on Friday night. Based on the youth’s mother complaint, Pollachi East police registered a case against the trio under IPC Sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 307 (attempt to murder) and the arrested them.
Police altered the case to IPC section 302 (murder) after the youth’s death. Gowtham, a labourer, had befriended the Class IX student, and had met her at her house when she was alone on Friday.