Nandhini (17), D/o Rajendran was residing with her mother in Sirukadampur Village of Senthurai Taluk of Ariyalur District. Her father died when she was a kid. She belonged to the Dalit community and has an elder sister Sivaranjini and an elder brother named Ranjith Kumar respectively.

Nandhini’s mother Rajakilli was the sole bread winner of the family. Her elder sister got married to a man in the nearby village. Nandhini had studied till 9^th standard and due her family situation she discontinued her studies. She started to work as constructional labourer for daily wages.

Nandhini was in a relationship with Manikadan, the prime accused in the case for the last one year. They both developed relationship when they were working together. The girl was working as a daily wage labourer and Manikandan was working as a mason. He was working as the union secretary of Hindu Munnani and belonged to Vanniyar caste (OBC).  Nandini who was one and a half months pregnant had insisted Manikandan to marry her. Manikandan refused and insisted to abort the foetus.

Later Manikandan assured that he will marry her and asked her to come with him on December 26, 2016. Believing his fake promises Nandhini went with Manikandan and he raped her again.

On 29.12.2016 Nandhini went missing from her house; her mother and her elder sister were searching for Nandhini at her friend’s house. In the night Nandhini called her elder sister Sivaranjini and told her that she is in love with a boy named Manikandan and very soon she will marry him. Immediately Nandhini’s sister Sivaranjini reached the police station and lodged a complaint but the station officer refused to lodge a complaint.

 Nandhini was kidnapped by Manikandan and gang raped by him and three of his friends on December 29, 2016. The accused had tried to remove the foetus that led to profuse bleeding causing her to die on the spot. The 4 men removed the fetus by tearing her genitals with a blade and they threw the girl’s body into the well and were found in a decomposed state with her hands tied.

 The Ariyalur police on January 14, 2017 found the decomposed body of Nandini in a well in Keezha Maligai village. The three friends of Manikandan have been identified as Thirumurugan, Manivannan and Vetrichelvan. Manikandan who was arrested on January 14 confessed to the crime. His friends, co-accused in the crime were later arrested on January 15.

The decomposed body of Nandhini was found by Ariyalur police only 11 days after the murder and they took over 20 days to file FIR.

Complaint was given on 30.12.2016 but the FIR was first registered as missing persons complaint and after a delay of 5 days it was registered with crime number: 3/2017 u/s 120(b), 364,302,201-IPC, & 5 & 6 POSCO Act, 3(1) (w) (i), 3(2) (va) – SC/ST Amendment Act 2015.