Tamil Nadu has been rocked by a series of disturbing incidents involving sexual assaults, highlighting the vulnerabilities of women and children in society. From Chennai to Madurai and Coimbatore, these cases expose not only the heinous crimes but also systemic failures in addressing them.
Chennai College Student with Mental Disabilities Assaulted by Seven Men
In a harrowing case, a 21-year-old college student with cognitive disabilities was repeatedly raped by seven men, including a juvenile, in Chennai. The victim, the daughter of a daily wage earner, revealed the abuse after her father discovered intimate photos on her mobile phone. Confronted by her father, the girl broke down and disclosed her ordeal.
Initially, the Ayanpuram police failed to act decisively, merely obtaining an undertaking from the accused that they would not repeat the crime and letting them off with a warning. It was only after the victim’s uncle, an employee at a corporate hospital, filed a fresh complaint with the Chintadripet police that the case gained momentum. The complaint was forwarded to the Egmore All-Women Police Station, where an FIR was registered.
Two accused, BSc student Suresh (19) and a 12th standard student, have been arrested, while the police are searching for the remaining five perpetrators. Preliminary investigations reveal that the survivor’s classmate introduced her to three men last year. These men, along with others, lured the victim through social media and took her to various locations in Chennai, where they sexually assaulted her.
Madurai: School Teacher Booked Under POCSO Act
In another case, a 59-year-old contract teacher, V. Murthy, at a government school in Madurai has been accused of sexually abusing an 11th standard student. Murthy had been previously booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in 2013 but was acquitted and reappointed.
Following new allegations, the District Magistrate directed the school’s headmaster to conduct an inquiry. Subsequently, the Usilampatti All-Women Police registered an FIR, and Murthy is currently on the run.
Coimbatore: High Court Refuses to Quash Charges Against Headmaster
In a separate incident in Coimbatore, the Madras High Court refused to quash a charge sheet filed against a school headmaster, Aathimoolam, who was implicated in a POCSO case. The headmaster claimed he was unaware of the alleged sexual assault reported by a class 8 student in 2018, as the complaint was lodged only in 2022.
Justice P Velmurugan emphasised the responsibility of headmasters as guardians of the entire school, stating that any incident under the POCSO Act must be reported immediately to the authorities. The court’s decision underscored the need for school administrators to act promptly in protecting students.
Coimbatore: Rape Survivor Alleges Harassment by Lawyer
In another shocking case from Coimbatore, a final-year professional course student accused a practising lawyer of demanding sexual favours after she sought legal help for a rape case. The survivor had initially alleged that Ananthakrishnan, an acquaintance, drugged and raped her in January 2023, threatening to upload videos of the assault if she reported the incident.
When the survivor approached advocate Manoj Pandi for assistance, he allegedly delayed the case and began making inappropriate demands. Frustrated by the lack of action from the Bar Council, the survivor approached the Madras High Court.
A division bench comprising Justices S.M. Subramaniam and M Jothiraman has directed the Bar Council to provide an explanation regarding the complaint against the lawyer. The court also impleaded the Coimbatore City Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) for allegedly exposing the survivor’s identity in violation of Supreme Court guidelines.
In October, a 42 year old construction worker was arrested for raping a seven-year-old girl at Thiruvottriyur on 25th. He lured the 3rd standard girl who was playing with her friends in the street, to his house on the terrace by promising sweets. The girl complained to her parents, they preferred a police complaint.
In another incident, a 40 year old school headmistress was booked for sexually assaulting a 22 year old teacher, who had joined the school five days ago, after spiking her drinks when she came to his house to discuss half-yearly examinations at Injambakkam. she sexually assaulted when she was blacked out. The victim complaint to the police who arrested the HM. She was let out on bail later.
Police detained a 15 years old boy on charges sexually assaulting and impregnating a 13 years old girl in Thanjavur. It came to fore after the girl delivered a baby at the government hospital when she was admitted after she told her parents about a abdominal pain. The boy after proposing had raped her. Vallam all women’s police detained the boy under POCSO and produced before juvenile board.
In another incident, a 8th standard girl was sexually assaulted by her 35 years old father and his 19 years old nephew for two years near Thiruvotriyur. The man married a woman and had two daughters and a son. The couple got separate after issues and staying with her parents along with the children. Two years, the woman allowed her second daughter to stay with her father. When she came to meet her mother, she told about the harrassement by her father and cousin for the past two years. Police registered in November last week a POCSO case and arrested the duo.
In Coimbatore, police arrested a 33 years old differently-abled PG trainee doctor for placing a pen camera inside a women nurses’ toilet. Police seized mobile phone and memory card from him”.
COIMBATORE: #Pollachi Police arrested a 33-year-old differently abled PG trainee doctor working in the Pollachi GH for placing a pen camera inside women's nurses' toilet. “We started inquiry suspecting Venkatesh, as he had straightaway removed camera and memory card and kept it… pic.twitter.com/rjTcb6mFAV
— Thinakaran Rajamani (@thinak_) December 1, 2024
A 57-year-old man was arrested in Coimbatore for raping 14 years old. victim’s relatives accuse a DMK councillor of attempting to hush up the crime and trying to destroy evidence.
14-சிறுமியை கற்பழித்த திமுக கவுன்சிலர்
போலீஸ் உதவியுடன் தடயங்களை அழிக்க முயற்ச்சி, கதறும் தாய்அடடா இது அல்லவா கனிமொழி அக்கா கண்ட திராவிட நாடு 🤧 pic.twitter.com/JMxAvRNcJb
— Sanghi Prince 🚩 (@SanghiPrince) December 1, 2024
Netizons Saravasnaprasad balasubramanian and Ethirajan Srinvasan in a post say “ a complaint by the victim’s father Pastor Jeyaraj abducting his 13 years old 9th standard student from tribal hamlet in Javadhu hills. Pastor Jeyaraj, was indulging in religious preaching on the pretext of social service in the hills and reportedly warned by locals for sexually harassing children. The father says he heard from people that the pastor took her daughter to Velankanni but police are not tracing him.
பழங்குடி இனத்தை சேர்ந்த 13 வயது சிறுமியை கடத்தி சென்ற பாதிரியார்…
மகளை மீட்டு தாருங்கள் என்று தந்தை கதறல்…
ஈஷா'னா மட்டும் தான் பொங்குவோம். பாதிரியார் எல்லாம் சாய்ஸ்ல விட்டுருவோம் 🤬🤬🤬🤬 pic.twitter.com/Xp2jALbP2J
— Saravanaprasad Balasubramanian (Modi ka Pariwar) (@BS_Prasad) November 23, 2024
in Cheyyar, a 62-year-old school van assistant raped and impregnated a 13-year-old student after threatening of dire consequences.
13 வயது சிறுமியை கர்ப்பமாக்கிய 62 வயது நபர்… பள்ளிப் பேருந்தில் உதவியாளராகப் பணியாற்றி வந்தவர் சிறுமியை மிரட்டி பாலியல் வன்கொடுமை செய்தது அம்பலம்..! #Tiruvannamalai | #Abuse | #Arrested | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/QNMODM0Ezr
— Polimer News (@polimernews) November 16, 2024
In Vellore, 13-year-old girl who came out of her house to attend nature’s call was abducted by three men who were drinking liquor nearby, took her to a quarry and raped her taking turns. Victim’s father who was looking for when did not return , heard and heard her crisis in the nearby quarry. He lodged a complaint with Vellore all women police station who registered a case only on Nov.19 after the girl’s family held demonstrations. They arrested Veerppan(28)Ilamathan (28) and Chinraj (30) /
Police arrested two cab drivers Bagyaraj (38) and Paramasivam (40) on November 18 on charges of kidnapping and raping a 17-year-old girl. The victim lost her parents and was living with her grandmother. She came to Chennai to stay with her aunt’s home. But had a fight and left. She told the cab drivers that she left home after a fight and needed a job. Bagyaraj and Paramasivan raped the girl. Her aunt filed a missing complaint. the girl managed to escape and reached home and narrated the ordeal.
A panchayat union primary school HM Sengalvaryan was arrested for sexually abusing a third standard student in Tiruvallur district on November 19 inside a toilet. Police arrested him after a video about this went viral in social media. Following this several students refused to attend classes.
Last month, in Ammapalayam in Perambalur district, police arrested a vocational stream teacher in government school Rajendran(58) on charges of sexually misbehaving and abusing girl students. The victims brought it to the notice of school Headmaster who informed his superiors. During the enquiry, it was found he indulged these acts with 7,8 and 9th standard students. Following complaints from parents, police booked him under POCSO act. He was suspended.
On October 25, police arrested ‘gana’ Dinest (23) sneaked into the house of a 15-year-old girl, when her parents away, and raped her. He gained entry by asking water, when she went inside, he locked door from inside and sexually assaulted her despite girl’s raising alarm. He slapped her and banger head on the wall, and she fainted.
In another incident, on October 28 Bar council suspends Villupuram based lawyer E Sivaraj for harassing a woman judicial office who lodged a sexual harassment complaint with the Bar council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The advocate was charged with causing judicial interference, mental harassment, stalking, defamation and other disturbances to a woman judicial officer. He is barred from practicing as an advocate in all courts, tribunals and other authorities in India either in his name or any assumed name till the pending disposal of the disciplinary proceedings.
These are the incidents happened in the just two months in Tamil Nadu causing a fear among parents and public about the safety children and women in schools, colleges, working places, homes and other places.
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