DMK functionary Kavidasan arrested in gang rape case
CHENNAI: In a shocking incident that underscores the worsening law and order situation in Tamil Nadu, a DMK functionary and member of Udhayanidhi Stalin’s fan club was arrested for the alleged gang rape of a young woman in Thanjavur district. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of women and the increasing prevalence of drug-related crimes in the state.
The 22-year-old victim, who works for a Chennai-based company, was visiting her parents in Thanjavur for a vacation when she was attacked. On the evening of August 12, while returning home after shopping, the victim was forcefully taken to an isolated area by 25-year-old DMK functionary Kavidasan, along with his accomplices Diwakar (27), Praveen (20), and a 17-year-old juvenile. The four men then gang-raped her and recorded the assault on video.
The victim bravely reported the crime on the same night at the all-women police station in Orathanadu. The police promptly arrested Kavidasan, Diwakar, Praveen, and the juvenile boy on August 12. The victim was admitted to Thanjavur Medical College Hospital for medical care.
Reports indicate that the accused were under the influence of ganja at the time of the crime. The easy availability of ganja and other narcotics in the state has become a significant concern, with youths increasingly turning to drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, and other synthetic narcotics. These substances are favored for their prolonged effects compared to TASMAC liquor, which has been criticized for its poor quality, even by government ministers like Durai Murugan.
Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai has fiercely criticized the ruling DMK government following the arrest of Kavidasan, a DMK functionary and member of Udhayanidhi Stalin’s fan club, for his involvement in the horrific gang rape of a young woman in Orathanadu, Thanjavur. Annamalai shared a picture of Kavidasan alongside DMK minister and youth wing chief Udhayanidhi Stalin, highlighting the accused’s affiliation with the ruling party.
In a strongly-worded tweet, Annamalai condemned the crime and blamed the DMK administration for what he called a “complete disregard for the safety and dignity of the people of Tamil Nadu.” He stated, “The horrific gang rape of a young girl by DMK functionary and Udhayanidhi Stalin fan club member, Kavidasan, is yet another example of the lawlessness under this administration.”
Annamalai expressed his outrage at the incident, demanding that the criminals be punished severely. He linked the rise in such crimes to the easy availability of drugs like ganja across the state. “With ganja easily available across the state, it’s no surprise that such crimes are rising. This incident mirrors the 2022 gang rape in Virudhunagar, also involving DMK youth wing members,” he tweeted.
The BJP leader further criticised the DMK for its alleged links to such heinous crimes, drawing parallels with the situation in West Bengal, where women MPs from the ruling party have faced criticism for their lack of empathy regarding a brutal rape and murder case in Kolkata. Annamalai questioned how long it would take for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to recognize the irreversible damage being caused to Tamil society under his regime.
BJP leaders have also raised concerns about the increasing crime rates in the state, citing statistics that indicate 599 murders in the last 200 days. They accused the DMK government of turning a blind eye to criminal activities such as illegal quarrying, selling illicit liquor, and trafficking ganja, while cracking down on actions like carrying the national flag.
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