The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has strongly condemned the brutal sexual assault of a 19-year-old second-year engineering student at Anna University on December 23, 2024, and the subsequent mishandling of the case by the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government.
According to reports, the accused, D. Gnanasekaran, a biryani hawker, trespassed into the university campus, assaulted the victim’s male friend, and sexually assaulted the victim while threatening her with blackmail. Despite the victim filing a complaint under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act, the Tamil Nadu Police delayed the arrest of the accused for 12 hours, during which sensitive details of the case, including the victim’s FIR, were leaked to DMK-affiliated media outlets, further exacerbating her trauma.
The situation took a more alarming turn when it was revealed that the accused had connections to the DMK, having participated in party activities and appeared in photographs with Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. As a syndicate member of Anna University, Stalin is directly implicated in the security lapses that allowed the crime to occur on the campus.
In response, ABVP launched protests across Tamil Nadu, demanding justice for the victim and accountability for the security failures at Anna University. However, the DMK government attempted to stifle dissent by arresting ABVP activists. On December 27, 2024, at 4 AM, ABVP North Tamil Nadu State Secretary Shri Yuvraj D and two other activists were detained at the ABVP Tamil Nadu State office in Purasaiwakkam.
ABVP is calling for immediate action against the accused, D. Gnanasekaran, with a fast-tracked trial to ensure justice for the victim. The organization also demands accountability for the lapses in campus security at Anna University, as well as measures to enhance safety on university campuses. ABVP stresses the need to protect the victim’s privacy to prevent further leaks of sensitive information and holds police officials accountable for the delay in arresting the accused. Furthermore, ABVP has demanded the immediate release of Yuvraj D and the other arrested activists, who were detained for peacefully protesting for justice.
ABVP’s National General Secretary Dr. Virendra Singh Solanki stated, “ABVP condemns this undemocratic action, emphasizing the DMK government’s failure to ensure campus safety and uphold democratic rights, demanding immediate and strict action against the accused, Gnanasekaran, with a fast-tracked trial to deliver justice to the victim. Also, to maintain the victim’s privacy to prevent further leaks and to hold police officials accountable for the delay in arresting the accused. ABVP will continue its fight for justice for the victim and for the safety of students on campuses across Tamil Nadu. The DMK government must realize that suppressing dissent cannot hide its failure to protect students’ dignity and safety.”
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