Abducted six-year-old girl found dead

MADURAI: A six-year-old girl,who was kidnapped for a ransom of Rs ten-lakh,was found murdered at Chaduragiri Malai in Virudhungar district on Saturday, police said.

The girl, a 2nd standard student, was allegedly kidnapped by a 19-year-old shepherd who was staying near her house on June 9 when she was on her way to school,they said.

The shepherd, who was working for a land broker, used to play with the girl daily.

Police said the parents, who were looking for their daughter,heard that the shepherd had taken her from the school,and lodged a complaint with police. Meanwhile, the shepherd telephoned from different places demanding Rs.10-lakh if they wanted the girl to be released alive, police said.

He had called from Chathuragiri Malai last night. Police who traced the call to Mavoothi area near Chathuragiri,managed to arrest the 19-year-old who confessed to kidnapping the girl, police said.

He told them the girl was in the custody of another person who had left her at Chathuragiri Malai.Finding the statement contradictory, police started searching for the girl in and around the area,when they found her body on Saturday, the sources said.