Chennai: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched a detailed investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old second-year engineering student from Anna University, reportedly perpetrated by a street cart biryani vendor with alleged political connections.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the December 23 incident, the NCW constituted a two-member fact-finding team, comprising NCW Member Mamta Kumari and retired IPS officer Praveen Dixit, a former DGP of Maharashtra. The team visited the university to conduct a thorough inquiry, meet with the victim and her family, and assess the campus’s security infrastructure and safety protocols.
In a press release, the NCW revealed that the panel inspected the International Women’s Hostel, reviewed CCTV footage from December 23, and engaged with key officials, including Tamil Nadu’s Home Secretary Dheera Kumar, DGP Shankar Jiwal, and Chennai Commissioner A Arun. The team also held discussions with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Madras High Court, which includes three women IPS officers.
Findings and Next Steps
Mamta Kumari stated that preliminary findings highlighted shortcomings in the university’s administration and the police’s handling of the case. “We have conducted the probe and submitted findings to the governor. There have been lapses in ensuring safety on campus and addressing complaints against the accused, who appears to be a habitual offender,” she said.
The NCW chairperson, Vijaya Rahatkar, criticized the delay in police action, noting that previous complaints against the accused had been ignored. “We have directed the police to take immediate action and ensure justice for the survivor,” she said. Mamta Kumari confirmed that a detailed report would be submitted to the central government.
Governor Briefed; Political Reactions Follow
The NCW panel met Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi to brief him on their findings. The meeting sparked a flurry of political activity, with several leaders visiting the Raj Bhavan to express concerns about law and order in the state.
Actor-turned-politician Vijay, founder of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), met the governor and submitted a petition urging the state government to prioritize women’s safety. Vijay, who has criticized the DMK government as “incompetent,” called for a robust response to violence against women. He also presented the governor with a book on Thirukkural.
However, Vijay faced backlash from netizens and opposition parties for his perceived delay in addressing the issue. Critics pointed to his party’s earlier resolution accusing the central government of inaction during the Manipur violence, questioning the timing of his intervention.
Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai also met the governor, urging him to ensure justice for the survivor and calling on all political parties to unite against the DMK government. “The DMK has failed to provide a safe environment for women. Justice must be served,” Annamalai said. He commended AIADMK and TVK for addressing the issue and urged continued protests.
ABVP Protests Intensify
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged protests at the Tamil Nadu Bhawan in New Delhi, demanding an independent probe and swift justice for the victim. ABVP Delhi State Secretary Harsh Atri declared that the organization would continue its agitation until justice is served. “We demand immediate investigation and strict action against the perpetrators. The university must be held accountable for its lapses in ensuring student safety,” Atri said.
The NCW panel’s inspection of Anna University revealed critical gaps in campus security. The panel identified insufficient surveillance measures and ineffective response mechanisms as contributing factors to the incident. The commission emphasized the need for enhanced safety protocols, including round-the-clock monitoring and regular audits of campus security.
ABVP requested the NCW to conduct a full-fledged enquiry in the present matter so that women live peacefully with whole dignity and modesty ensured by the Constitution”
To recap the incident in short: Two unknown individuals approached the couple, assaulted the boyfriend, and sexually harassed the woman. Police arrested Gnanasekaran, a roadside biryani vendor from Kotturpuram with multiple pending cases against him. The survivor, in her written complaint, described how Gnanasekaran had received a phone call from an unknown person, during which he mentioned threatening the girl and leaving her. The girl told police and university’s POSH committee, ” he then forcibly took me to a secluded area behind the Highway Lab Building and the Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) department building, where he presented me with three horrifying options: one, to be expelled from the university by the dean based on the footage he threatened to release; two, to “spend time” with him; and three, to “spend time” with another man who had reportedly called the accused before the assault”.
மற்ற மாநிலங்களில் பெண்கள் உரிமை & பாதுகாப்பு குறித்து பொங்கியெழும் @KanimozhiDMK, @Udhaystalin @Subramanian_ma ஆகியோர் இந்த சம்பவத்தில் மௌனம் சாதிக்கிறார்கள். பெண்களுக்கான உரிமை பேசுவது உங்கள் வசதிக்காக மட்டுமா? குற்றவாளிகள் திமுகவினர் என்றால் மௌனமா? #ShameOnYouStalin pic.twitter.com/m02hdGuxSl
— யுவராஜ் தாமோதரன் (@YUVARAJDHAMODHA) December 26, 2024
Now the whole Tamil Nadu and opposition parties are asking “who is the ‘Sir”. AIADMK started a campaign with pasting posters with this question all over the state.
Police dutifully removed the same within minutes of their posting. It arrested the AIADMK cadres and leaders.
வட சென்னை தெற்கு கிழக்கு மாவட்டம் #யார்_அந்த_SIR #ADMK_CHN pic.twitter.com/vBLdClEkAC
— VOMMspotter (@VinTN) December 29, 2024
Critics say” when the state is agitating over the increase in crimes against women that too in Anna university, which is hardly few hundred meters away from the Raj bhavan, DMK government is celebrating opening of bridge in Kanyakumari and other events. it did not mourn the demise of Manmohan singh but CM with his family and ministers attend functions with family as a yearend vocation.”.
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