Reports indicate a disturbing rise in sexual assaults against women in Tamil Nadu, with media outlets frequently highlighting multiple incidents daily. In a recent case, a sophomore nursing student from Kerala was discovered near Dindigul railway station on September 23, after allegedly being kidnapped and gang-raped by an unidentified group in Theni. The incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns over the safety of women in the region.
Media reports citing police sources reveal that the nursing student was discovered by Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel. Upon questioning, she recounted that a group of men sexually assaulted her before abandoning her at the railway station. The authorities took her to a government hospital for a medical examination and informed her family about the incident.
The student, a second-year nursing major at a private college in Theni, was reportedly abducted from a bus stop in Theni. The police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) and are investigating all possible angles. They are currently reviewing CCTV footage to identify and apprehend the culprits.
#BREAKING | கேரள மாணவிக்கு கூட்டு பாலியல் வன்கொடுமை#Student | #Harassment | #Dindigul pic.twitter.com/L4QX4cAlMv
— PttvOnlinenews (@PttvNewsX) September 23, 2024
The Visaka Committee at Karur Government Medical College and Hospital has begun investigating a sexual harassment complaint filed by a 25-year-old intern doctor from Chennai. The intern, who is undergoing training at the hospital, has accused a 45-year-old surgeon of sexual harassment. Following her complaint, the five-member Visaka Committee has started its inquiry. Dean In-charge Raja informed the media that the committee is looking into the allegations and will provide full details once the report is submitted.
This is not the first such incident at the college. In May this year, a male doctor from Madurai allegedly promised to marry a 25-year-old woman intern and then sexually assaulted her. The police have filed a case against the accused, Rajesh, and are currently investigating the matter.
Two young sisters have accused Salem Sulamangalam SI Satkthi of sexual harassment. One of the victims stated, “We filed a complaint against him with the Commissioner of Police in July this year. They questioned us, but no action has been taken. We have been receiving threats, and they are also threatening our mother to withdraw the complaint. Since he is a police officer, they are hesitant to take action against him. We are afraid to go out. We are college students.” The sisters have now approached the collector, seeking action and protection.
அக்கா, தங்கையை சீண்டிய சப் இன்ஸ்பெக்டர்… நடவடிக்கை இல்லையா? மன்றாடும் பெண்! #Salem #Police #SexualHarassment #Women #Complaint #NewsTamil #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/6oMW2OxWvS
— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) September 23, 2024
The Salem district secretary of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) informed the media about a troubling case involving two sisters. According to the secretary, there was a dispute between the victims’ parents, leading both the father and mother to approach the police. SI Sakthi, who registered the case and was aware of the family’s background, allegedly exploited the situation under the guise of helping, and began teasing and sexually harassing the sisters. Despite their complaint to the Commissioner of Police, no action has been taken against the SI, either departmentally or legally. A team did inquire about the situation, but the sisters are now receiving death threats from unknown individuals and are living in fear.
In another incident, a 30-year-old woman in Sivaganga district was abducted by a seven-member gang and raped in an isolated area while she was speaking to a 24-year-old boy. In Ramanathapuram, a 27-year-old married woman was confined in a house and sexually assaulted by a five-member gang, who threatened her with a video of the crime to force her compliance. In Chennai, a 10-year-old girl was repeatedly raped for a week by her neighbor.
The High Court has taken up her case suo motu, including the alleged assault and the confinement of her parents in the police station overnight. Earlier, in a fake NCC camp, schoolgirls were sexually harassed and assaulted, and the accused allegedly committed suicide by ingesting rat poison. In Trichy, a Christian government doctor visiting his mother’s school sexually harassed girls under the pretense of holding medical camps. In Nagapattinam, a psychological counselor who sexually assaulted inmates at a government home was arrested.
