Whether the state DMK government has maintained sustained growth, the sexual assaults on women and children are continuing without a break on any given day in Tamil Nadu under the Dravidian Model governance led by Chief Minister MK Stalin, particularly crimes against women underscoring how it is not safe for them.
Recent incidents:
Police arrested Madurai Vasanthnagar government-aided school teacher Jayaram for sexually harassing girl students, and headmistress Poreselvi and a teacher, Krishnaveni, who failed to act on the complaints from the affected victims under the POCSO Act. Victims studying in 7 and 9 standards preferred a complaint, and police arrested them on November 7.
Police on November 5, 2025, arrested a 22-year-old, Neelu Kumari Gupta from Odisha (hostel resident), and her 25-year-old male friend, Ravi Prathap Singh, for planting a spy camera in the women’s hostel washroom. Tata Electronics provides accommodation for its women employees at Vidiyal Residency in Nagamangalam village. The camera’s discovery triggered shock, leading to protests and the arrest of Ravi Gupta, who sold the pictures for a price on the internet.
On November 2, a 20-year-old PG college student who was with her boyfriend was dragged out from a car after breaking the window and taken to a lonely place by a three-member gang where they raped her in turns in Coimbatore. Amidst attempts to hush up, police acted and arrested them on November 3 after shooting them below the knees.
Police arrested physical education teacher Samson Prabakaran of a government school in Mayiladuthurai on charges of impregnating a physically challenged 8-standard girl student. She discontinued her studies and remained at home. When she complained of stomach pain, doctors found she was five months pregnant. Based on the complaint, police arrested him under the POCSO Act.
Police arrested government higher secondary school crafts teacher Murugesan (49) near Bargur in Krishnagiri district for sexually assaulting girl students. In the school, 400 students are studying. Based on the complaint, he was held under the POCSO Act.
Thoothukudi police arrested Murugan (43), who stalked a 40-year-old woman (resident of Theivaseyalpuram) who walked alone and tried to sexually assault her after cupping her mouth. Following the victim’s screams for help, passers-by gathered and thrashed the man before handing him over to police. It happened on November 4.
Tiruvarur police arrested a first-year 17-year-old college student for sexually assaulting a minor girl who is also studying in college first year. After getting her confidence, on October 8, he took her out of town and sexually assaulted her. Now he has been arrested under the POCSO Act.
Police arrested Periyar Selvam (43), government hospital staff of Perambalur Government Medical College Hospital, for sexually harassing a woman inpatient in a women’s ward on October 28. The woman raised her voice for help, and he fled the place. She shared this with her mother, who preferred a complaint with police.
A Tiruvarur resident, Ramzan Beevi (47), alone at home, was sexually assaulted by an intruder on October 28. He was later identified as Deenhanis, residing in the same locality. The victim’s second daughter, on reaching home, heard the assault and informed police, who arrested him.
On October 25, police arrested a 23-year-old Nepali who worked as a security guard under the POCSO Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in Anna Nagar. The accused, Suresh, a married man, sexually attacked the victim on October 23.
In Tirunelveli, Ayyaktutti (49), forest guard in Manjolai tea estate, barged into a house of a worker on October 23 and tried to sexually assault a woman who was alone at home. Based on the complaint, he was arrested and suspended from duty.
Police arrested Ettupulikaadu Government Middle School teacher Baskar (53) for allegedly misbehaving with a fifth-standard girl student. Teachers and students brought it to the attention of headmistress Vijaya. She did not listen to their grievances. Hence police arrested her for abetting the crime. During the probe, Baskar had sexually harassed seven girl students. He was arrested under the POCSO Act.
In Pammal Pallavaram, daily wager Raghu (40) was arrested for sexually harassing his neighbour, a 20-year-old woman, on October 26 when she was alone.
On October 23, police arrested a bike ride captain who operated with a fake name “Shamsudeen” on the app for sexually harassing a woman at Virugambakkam. During the ride, the captain told her he needed to attend some urgent work and came back with another man. They sexually harassed the woman, who cried for help. They fled.
In another incident, a fourth-standard girl, while sleeping, started crying “please leave me”. A talk with her in the morning led her mother to learn that while returning from school on November 10 evening around 5.30 pm, Jainudeen offered the girl a lift on his bike and sexually assaulted her in his home. After the crime, he threatened not to share this with anyone, otherwise he would kill her. The mother of the victim lodged a complaint with Sivaganga police, and the predator was arrested under the POCSO Act.
Police arrested a juvenile for following a 13-year-old girl and sexually harassing her in Vysarpadi. The girl, who has been going for tuition for over two years in Kodungaiyyur, was sexually tortured by the boy on October 16. The victim’s father lodged a complaint with police, and a 15-year-old boy was arrested and has now been lodged in a juvenile home.
In another incident, police arrested a tailor for misbehaving with a 14-year-old boy. His mother took him to Classic Tailor Fashion Studio for Diwali dress. While she left the shop, leaving the boy to bring an umbrella home after seeing heavy rains, tailor Siva (50) misbehaved with the boy. Based on a complaint, police arrested the tailor under the POCSO Act.
Nandambakkam police arrested 25-year-old Prakash for allegedly filming a 28-year-old woman on his mobile while she was taking a bath in her home. Sensing someone was filming her, she shouted for help, and her relatives chased the accused and handed him over to police.
Police arrested 25-year-old John Peter for marrying a 17-year-old girl and running a family in Mannargudi. It is learnt that the man developed a friendship with the girl for over a year and married her in July at a Murugan temple. The couple rented a house in Mannargudi. When the doctor found the girl became two months pregnant, he informed police.
In another incident, Manikandan (24) of Tiruvarur tobacco garden area had tied a knot with a 17-year-old girl in February 2024. On coming to know of the child marriage, police arrested Manikandan under the POCSO Act.
Police arrested Kodambakkam Sri alias Sreekandan under the POCSO Act for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. In her complaint, the orphaned girl, who lives with her aunt, stated that the accused lured her under the pretext of giving clothes and sexually assaulted her while also trying to force her into sexual exploitation. Her aunt did not listen to her complaint and asked her to cooperate with the man. Hence the survivor sought police help.
Police arrested 22-year-old Varadarajan of Enthur village in Villupuram district for impregnating a 15-year-old girl. Police booked him under the POCSO Act.
Orathanadu All-Women Police arrested government bus conductor Sudakar (47) for sexually harassing a minor girl student who was returning after attending a skill development test at a school in Pattukottai. She is a resident of a village near Orathanadu.
According to data, crime against women and children has increased by 50.71 per cent during the past three years. It said that in 2019, when the AIADMK was ruling, the crime count was 5,934. During the current DMK regime, it has touched 50.71 per cent in the past three years. This included crimes like harassment, sexual assault, misdemeanour, murder threats and abduction.
In 2021, the crime against women and children was 8,501, and it rose to 9,027 in 2022 and 8,943 in 2023. Between 2021 and 2023, nearly 1,208 women were sexually assaulted. Eighty-two women were victims of sexual assault attempt incidents. In 2019, crime against children was 4,139; 4,338 in 2020; 6,064 in 2021; 6,580 in 2022; and 6,968 in 2023, registering 68.36 per cent. Also, there has been an increase in POCSO cases. It was 2,396 in 2019; 3,090 in 2020; 4,465 in 2021; 4,968 in 2022; and 4,581 in 2023.
Critics argue that the rise of sexual crimes is due to the free availability of liquor, ineffective policing that is diverted to go after social media critics, CM security duties, and the boldness of people who take advantage of poor policing plus political patronage, preying on women and children for their lust. In most cases, they are from the ruling DMK party or its allies, as well as rowdy elements, teachers, peers, policemen and wardens of homes.
They further add that despite the government implementing a slew of measures for the safety, security and development of women and children, the crime against them has not gone down. In most of the cases, those who are in political power or close to their circles are indulging in these types of crimes. Police are afraid to take action against them in view of their proximity to power. A day should come when police take action irrespective of their position, political proximity and however powerful they are. Until this happens, there is no respite for women and children.
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