Two eyewitnesses on Tuesday (June 2, 2026) identified the main accused in the recent sexual assault-cum-murder of a 10-year-old girl near Sulur in Coimbatore district, credible sources said.

The main accused K. Karthi (35), who had been residing at Pallapalayam near Sulur, was paraded along with other individuals in a line-up at the Coimbatore Central Prison on Tuesday.

A magistrate appointed by the special court for the trial of cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act conducted the test identification parade at a designated space in the prison. The magistrate will submit a report on the key procedure in the case to the POCSO court.

Two eyewitnesses in the case, who claimed to have seen Karthi taking away the minor girl in a two-wheeler on May 21 evening, identified him from the line-up comprising other individuals, said sources.

One of them had reportedly seen Karthi taking the girl away from her neighbourhood at Pallapalayam, after luring her out offering chocolates. The second eyewitness is said to have seen Karthi with the girl on the transit, before he took her to the scene of crime - a thicket in a private land abutting Kannampalayam tank, a large waterbody. He travelled with the girl for about 2.5 km from Pallapalayam to the tank.

Since Karthi suffered fractures on his right arm and right leg, allegedly while attempting to escape from the police before his arrest, the line-up for the parade was arranged in such a way, leaving no room for the eyewitnesses to recognise him from the injuries.

Karthi had also suffered a few other injuries, after being attacked by four convict prisoners in the prison on May 30. He was admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and was discharged on Monday (June 1, 2026).

The investigating team have moved the court seeking custody of Karthi and his accomplice R. Mohan (31) of Pallapalayam. The POCSO court is expected to hear the plea on Wednesday (June 3, 2026) or Thursday (June 4, 2026), according to police sources. The police are aiming to file the charge-sheet in the case in less than 30 days from the day of their arrest.