Puducherry comes to a standstill as DMK, AIADMK, Congress unite in protest over 9-year-old’s murder

The girl, who had been missing since March 2, was found dead in a drain near her home on March 5.

Protests had been taking place in Puducherry ever since the initial discovery of her body, with her limbs tied and covered in cloth. There has been speculation about the involvement of drug peddlers and addicts in the murder, prompting calls for a stringent crackdown on such activities.

The day-long bandh on Friday saw the closure of shops and all trade establishments in Puducherry and neighbouring towns. Public life was disrupted as private buses, autorickshaws, and most commercial activities ceased, although government-run buses continued to operate on a limited basis to facilitate student transportation for exams.

The protests ever since the victim was found dead have been directed towards alleged inaction of the local administration. The subsequent arrest of two men, a 56-year-old and a 19-year-old, on charges of murder and kidnapping, and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the SC/ST Act, has done little to quell the public’s fury.

Amid the escalating tension, Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan visited the victim’s family and assured them that a fast-track special court would expedite proceedings in the case. She also promised the most severe punishment for the culprits, even as calls for her resignation over alleged failures in curbing drug trafficking continued.

While Friday’s bandh was largely peaceful, protesters expressed their frustration and demanded accountability within the Puducherry government, which is ruled by All India NR Congress, backed by the BJP. A top official at the Secretariat said educational institutions and government offices maintained normal attendance. However, the streets were largely deserted, public transport came to a halt, and businesses were closed.