Krishnan Nair, J.

The unfortunate victim in this case is one Rajimol, aged 9 years, who was the daughter of P.W.1, Omana. Rajimol was studying in the Vth standard in the K.M.U.P.School, Mallassery. On 1-12-1997, at 7 a.m. as usual, she left her house for attending the tuition class and after the tuition, she went to the school. She used to return home at 4.30 p.m. But, on that day, she did not return. P.W.1 made enquiries about her missing daughter. When she met P.W.2, a classmate of the deceased, she was told that P.W.2 along with Rajimol returned from the school as usual and when they reached in front of the oil Mill at Vattakulanji junction, the, the deceased went towards east in the company of the accused through the colony road. At about 9.30 p.m. P.W.1 and others went to the house of the accused and made enquires about the deceased. The accused told them that he did not see her. At about 10.30 p.m., P.W.1 went to pathanamthitta Police Station and gave Ext.P1, P.W17, the then Sub Inspector of police, Pathanamthitta, registered Crime No.756/97 of the pathanamthitta police Station under Ext.P1 (a) F.I.R. P.W.19, the then Circle Inspector of Pathanamthitta police Stati