Chennai: Tamil Nadu has witnessed a series of shocking sexual assault cases in recent days, raising serious concerns over the safety of women and children in the state. The latest incident involved an 18-year-old woman from Assam who was allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted by three men, including an auto driver, near the newly opened Kilambakkam bus terminus on February 3rd night. The horrific crime has once again put a spotlight on the deteriorating law and order situation in Tamil Nadu, with political leaders and citizens demanding swift action against the perpetrators.
According to reports, the victim had arrived at the Kilambakkam terminus at around 11 PM while traveling from Salem to visit her relatives in Madhavaram. Unable to find a bus to her destination, she moved towards the opposite bus terminus, which was deserted at the time. An auto driver approached her, initiated a conversation, and upon learning that she was alone, offered to drop her at Madhavaram. When she refused, he forcibly pushed her into the vehicle and sped away.
While in transit, the auto driver contacted two accomplices, who boarded the auto at different locations. The trio allegedly sexually assaulted her at knifepoint inside the moving auto. The woman’s cries for help caught the attention of passersby, who immediately alerted the police control room. Responding swiftly, a police patrol team began chasing the auto. On seeing the approaching police vehicle, the perpetrators dropped the victim at Nerkundram and fled the scene.
A nearby auto driver, who witnessed the woman being pushed out and heard her screams, came to her aid. The victim, who speaks Hindi, explained the incident to the driver, revealing that her assailants also spoke Hindi. The woman, employed as a domestic worker in Salem, managed to contact the police after she was put in another auto by the accused and dropped at Koyambedu. The second auto driver is believed to have assisted her in reaching out to her relatives in Chennai, who then informed the police.
The shocking crime sparked outrage, with Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai condemning the deteriorating law and order situation. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), he said, “An 18-year-old girl was abducted in an auto-rickshaw outside the Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus in Kilambakkam and was sexually assaulted. She was saved by a good Samaritan who dialed the police control room after hearing the girl’s cry for help. Sexual assault across Tamil Nadu has become a horrifying reality, with drugs becoming an easily accessible commodity.”
Annamalai further alleged that drug-related crimes have been on the rise in the state while arrests under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act have seen a significant decline. He stated, “The number of arrests made in NDPS cases in Tamil Nadu in the last three years, between 2022 and 2024, was only 1,122. In 2021 alone, the total number of arrests in NDPS cases was 9,632. The sale of Ganja and Methamphetamine is on the rise in Tamil Nadu, but arrests are on the decline. Has the Tamil Nadu government deliberately become complacent, giving drug peddlers a free run? How many more victims before authorities ensure safer streets for our sisters?”
Other Recent Incidents of Sexual Assault in Tamil Nadu
This horrifying case is just one among a series of sexual assaults reported across Tamil Nadu in recent weeks, raising fears over the safety of women, children, and the elderly.
In another disturbing case, a private bus driver was arrested for sexually harassing a 51-year-old woman traveling from Bengaluru to Chennai. The accused, identified as R. Krishna Sekar (38), an alternate driver of the private bus, allegedly made sexual advances towards the woman. Following her complaint, he was arrested and booked under the Tamil Nadu Women Harassment (Prevention) Act.
In Coimbatore, a daily wage laborer was arrested for allegedly raping his 78-year-old neighbor on the night of January 22nd. The crime came to light only on February 4th when the elderly survivor confided in a neighbor, who then reported the incident to the police. The accused, identified as C. Balan alias Balamurugan (41), was reportedly living alone after separating from his wife. According to police, he visited the victim’s house under the pretense of fixing a light bulb before sexually assaulting her. Out of fear of societal backlash, the elderly woman had been staying in temples after the incident before finally revealing her ordeal.
In another shocking case, a Mathematics teacher, Muthukumaran, was arrested in Thanjavur’s Pappanaadu Government Higher Secondary School for allegedly sexually harassing students of the 9th and 10th standards. The arrest was made following complaints from the victims, but the District Child Welfare Officer, Ranjith Kumar, came under fire for not immediately reporting the matter to the police. He only filed a complaint after facing immense pressure from the public, leading to demands for action against him.
Pattern of Increasing Crimes Against Women and Children in Tamil Nadu
These incidents add to a growing list of crimes against women and children in Tamil Nadu, with several high-profile cases reported in recent months. Some notable cases include:
Anna University sexual assault: A female student was sexually assaulted inside the university campus, raising questions about campus safety.
Teenager gang-rape case: A young girl was raped by her own friends, shocking the local community.
10-year-old girl repeatedly raped: A minor was sexually abused for a week by her neighbor, highlighting the vulnerability of children.
Midnight car chase involving DMK flag-fitted SUV: A group of women narrowly escaped a chase by a jeep and an SUV bearing DMK flags. The accused later followed the women to their residence but fled when neighbors intervened. The police leaked the accused’s confession to the public, drawing severe criticism from both the BJP and AIADMK.
The alarming rise in sexual assault cases across Tamil Nadu has led to widespread outrage, with political parties, activists, and citizens demanding stronger measures to ensure women’s safety. Critics argue that while police are quick to clamp down on protests and political activities, they fail to act decisively against rising crimes against women.
