TN man accused of attempting to rape minor girl commits suicide

TIRUVANNAMALAI: A 34-year-old man, who was accused in an attempt to rape case, committed suicide at Azhividaithangi in Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
The deceased man has been identified as P Thomas, 34, who was a dalit. He worked as a private ambulance driver.
Inspector Abarna from Cheyyar’s all-woman police station (AWPS) said Thomas often visited a teashop at Perungattur village, situated five km away from his village. He eventually fell in love with the teashop owner’s daughter, who is 15-year-old girl. The girl, who belonged to the vanniyar community, was in Class X.
“By promising to marry her, Thomas often met the girl in isolated places and clicked pictures with her. When the girl’s parents knew about the relationship, they warned her. The girl immediately decided to break up with Thomas,” the inspector said.
However, on June 12, Thomas contacted the girl and asked her to meet him at another isolated place. He threatened to upload the picture on social media sites if she refused to meet him.
When the girl met the man, he attempted to rape her. She managed to escape.
“Based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s father at the Cheyyar AWPS, a case was registered against Thomas under Section 511a of the IPC and Section 7 of Posco Act. A search was launched for Thomas as he was absconding,” Abarna said.
Meanwhile, VSG Suresh, DSP of Cheyyar said that AWPS officials had been on a lookout for the accused for the last four days. “On Tuesday morning, his dead body that was hanging from a tamarind tree by the village lake was spotted. The driver’s relatives suspected a foul play by the girl’s family and demanded action against them,” the DSP said.
The Brahmadesam police, who retrieve the body, found a suicide note written by him in his pocket. Thomas mentioned that he took the extreme step as he was disappointed. Following this, his relatives were convinced and the body was sent to Cheyyar government hospital for an autopsy.
The police registered a case under and further investigations were on.