The Cuddalore New Town police probing the sexual assault and murder of a three-year-old girl in Tiruvannamalai have arrested two persons, including the victim’s mother in connection with the case.

According to police, the victim’s mother had moved with her three children to her cousin’s house in Tiruvannamalai recently. The incident took place on June 17. The victim’s mother claimed that the child had fainted in a relative’s house at Tiruvannamalai and took her to a primary health centre in Tindivanam where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.

The victim’s father lodged a complaint with the New Town police alleging foul play in his daughter’s death. The police took up the investigation and the victim’s uncle was arrested in Tiruvannamalai after the post-mortem report suggested her body bore marks of sexual assault.

The accused was arrested after he confessed to the crime. The victim’s mother was also arrested for abetting the crime. The duo was produced before a local court and remanded to custody.