In the midst of growing crimes against women and children, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay formed the Singapen Special Task Force (SSTF), an all-women police unit, on 9 June with the stated aim of preventing crimes targeted against women and children. However, despite the launch of the force, incidents of sexual assault, abuse, harassment and crimes against women and children continue to be reported across the state.
Critics argue that the SSTF can only monitor and patrol vulnerable areas and has no powers of arrest or prosecution like the regular police force. They contend that the rising number of such incidents raises serious questions about the effectiveness of existing preventive mechanisms and the overall safety environment for women and children in Tamil Nadu.
மாண்புமிகு தமிழ்நாடு முதலமைச்சர் திரு. ச.ஜோசப் விஜய் அவர்கள் இன்று (9.6.2026) சென்னை, எழும்பூர், இராஜரத்தினம் அரங்கத்தில் நடைபெற்ற விழாவில், தமிழ்நாட்டில் பெண்களின் பாதுகாப்பை மேம்படுத்தும் வகையில் உருவாக்கப்பட்டுள்ள சிங்கப்பெண் சிறப்பு அதிரடிப்படையைத் தொடங்கி வைத்து… pic.twitter.com/ZZKhUmfOT7
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) June 9, 2026
Some of the incidents witnessed in the recent past in the state are given below:
In a heart-wrenching incident, a three-year-old girl died in Gummidipoondi in the Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu after she was found with severe injuries from sexual assault. A 19-year-old migrant worker from Bihar has been detained on suspicion.
நெஞ்சைப் பிளக்கும் கொடூரம்!
திருவள்ளூரில் 3 வயது பிஞ்சு குழந்தை கூட்டுப் பாலியல் வன்கொடுமை செய்யப்பட்டு முட்புதரில் வீசப்பட்ட சம்பவம் தமிழகத்தையே உலுக்கியுள்ளது.
முதலமைச்சர் திரு.@TVKVijayHQ ஆட்சியில் சட்டம் ஒழுங்கு பாதாளத்திற்குச் சென்றுவிட்டது. மாநிலத்தில் பெண்கள் பாதுகாப்பு… pic.twitter.com/uSGUCIFKpQ
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) June 15, 2026
He allegedly lured her with biscuits before attacking her and abandoning her in the bushes. The parents and local residents failed to locate her and lodged a missing person complaint with the police.
Following the sexual assault and death of the three year old girl, residents of the Pudhupettai area staged a road blockade protest, demanding stronger safety measures for their children.@xpresstn pic.twitter.com/murKU7d7Nq
— Rajalakshmi sampath (@Rajalakshmi2398) June 15, 2026
Meanwhile, after media reports quoted local residents alleging that the child was gang raped by four people, the district police issued a denial, stating that the claims were not true.
The Salem City Police arrested 40-year-old M. Manikandan from Puthur Agraharam near Neikkarapatti on charges of sexually abusing women by filming obscene videos of them and then using those recordings to threaten and pressure them to yield to his wishes.
Name: Manikandan (TVK functionary /executive, associated with Salem district, specifically Kondalampatti area).
Party: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (#TVK).
Allegations: He is accused of sexually exploiting multiple women (reports mention threats involving videos of around 50+… pic.twitter.com/qf4h957iQH
— We Dravidians (@WeDravidians) June 13, 2026
It is alleged that he approached women facing financial difficulties, promising them loans and support. It is learnt that the accused, after earning their confidence, filmed private moments without permission and later used the footage to blackmail them. Kondalampatti Police Station booked a case after outrage erupted on social media, with accusations that the government was supporting him and destroying evidence.
சேலத்தில் 50ற்கு் மேற்பட்ட பெண்களை பாலியல் துன்புறுத்தல் செய்து ஆபாச படமெடுத்த தவெக நிர்வாகி மணிகண்டனை கைதுசெய்து 7 பிரிவுகளில் வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்துள்ளது தமிழக காவல்துறை..
விஜய் ஆட்சிக்கு வந்து ஒரே மாதத்தில்
பாலியல் சீண்டல்களில் கைதான 6வது விஜய் ரசிகன் இவன் .. pic.twitter.com/vly6Mwh0st— தல அரவிந்த் (@aravinth43AK) June 13, 2026
Manikandan is alleged to have abused women and also compelled some of them to meet the demands of his associates. Police booked him under seven sections.
பாலியல் புகார் – தவெக நிர்வாகி கைது #Salem #TVK #Arrest #News18TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/ef3ouAuiiG
— News18 Tamil Nadu (@News18TamilNadu) June 13, 2026
Meanwhile, an audio recording shared by one of the victims spread widely on social media. In the clip, the woman explained that she had come across several obscene videos of other women on Manikandan’s phone and that she had been threatened when she attempted to cut ties with him.
Next பொள்ளாச்சி சம்பவம் 😭
50 பெண்களை கொடுமை படுத்தி use பண்ணிட்டு Video எடுத்து வச்சு மிரட்டுறாங்க ளாம்
எல்லாம் நம்ம tvk கட்சி காரர்கள் தான் 🔥🔥
இத பத்தி யாவது Cm vijay பேசுவாரா— தல அரவிந்த் (@aravinth43AK) June 12, 2026
TVK released a statement stating that Manikandan was neither a cadre nor a functionary of the party, contrary to claims made by some people. The case is being compared by some observers to the Pollachi sexual assault scandal of 2019, which rocked Tamil Nadu during the AIADMK regime.
DMK Deputy General Secretary and MP Kanimozhi, on 13 June, expressed shock over allegations that a TVK member in Salem threatened, sexually abused and filmed more than 50 women. She said the allegations were disturbing and urged the state government to take stringent action against those involved.
சேலத்தில் தவெக நிர்வாகி 50-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட பெண்களை மிரட்டி, ஆபாசமாக வீடியோ எடுத்த செய்தி அதிர்ச்சி அளிக்கிறது.
பொள்ளாச்சி வன்கொடுமை சம்பவத்தை அதிமுக அரசு மூடி மறைக்க முயன்றதைப் போல, இந்த கொடுஞ்செயலில் ஈடுபட்ட குற்றவாளிகளைக் காப்பாற்ற முயலாமல், உரிய விசாரணை மேற்கொண்டு தண்டனையை…
— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) June 13, 2026
St. Thomas Mount Police arrested TVK functionary Vembuli (Alandur North area TVK functionary) for allegedly sexually harassing a 43-year-old woman in charge of a corporation-run gymnasium. The woman alleged that Vembuli repeatedly made sexual advances and threatened to have her removed from her job if she refused to comply with his demands. Later, the party announced that he had been removed.
Balasubramaniam (35), TVK’s Thoothukudi West Youth Wing member, and Jeyabal (28), a TVK party functionary from Ramanathapuram district, were arrested by the Srivaikuntam All Women Police in Thoothukudi district for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman after luring her with a promise of employment.
According to reports, the woman, a resident of the Srivaikuntam area, was taken by the accused in a car on 3 May on the pretext of helping her secure a job. The two allegedly took her to Ervadi in Ramanathapuram district and provided her with a drink mixed with a sedative. The woman allegedly lost consciousness after consuming the drink, following which the accused sexually assaulted her.
Leader of Opposition Udhaya Nidhi Stalin, on 11 June, demanded the immediate removal of TVK MLA from Srivaikundam G. Saravanan for allegedly backing TVK functionaries. He questioned whether Chief Minister Vijay was concerned about women’s safety. He alleged that the “sofa model government” was trying to cover up the issue. He further stated that while launching the Singapen Special Task Force, the Chief Minister had expressed anguish over incidents of sexual abuse, but his government was acting against the victim instead of those accused.
DMK MP Kanimozhi, in a post, said: “At a time when women’s safety has become a major concern, when will Chief Minister Vijay realise that he is the one in power and act responsibly, instead of blaming the DMK, as he did during the election campaign?”
திருவைகுண்டம் அருகே பெண் ஒருவர், தவெக நிர்வாகிகள் இருவரால் வேலை வாங்கித் தருவதாக அழைத்துச் செல்லப்பட்டு, மயக்க மருந்து கொடுத்து பாலியல் வன்கொடுமைக்கு ஆளாக்கப்பட்ட செய்தி அதிர்ச்சியும் வேதனையும் அளிக்கிறது.
பெண்கள் பாதுகாப்பு பெரும் கேள்விக்குறியாகியுள்ள இன்றைய சூழலில், தேர்தல்…
— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) June 2, 2026
In June, police arrested 25-year-old Sanjay for sexually assaulting an 80-year-old woman near Uthankarai in Krishnagiri district. The accused was allegedly in an inebriated state while committing the crime, police said.
Lokesh (23), a delivery worker, was arrested for sexually assaulting a 31-year-old woman at her house in Aminjikarai.
Police arrested seven men, including a 16-year-old minor, for robbing, stripping and sexually assaulting couples who halted for rest on the Girivalam path in Thiruvannamalai. The gang reportedly filmed the incident. When the victim reached home, the gang threatened to upload the videos on social media. She lodged a complaint, and based on CCTV footage, police arrested them. The gang is alleged to have indulged in similar crimes earlier as well.
A 43-year-old C. Mari Selvam, a taxi driver, was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Tiruchi. He allegedly visited the victim’s friend’s house on the evening of 3 June under the influence of alcohol, kidnapped the girl and sexually assaulted her before dropping her near her home.
An 80-year-old Chellappan was arrested on 2 June under the POCSO Act for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in Ambattur while she was playing with his granddaughter. He also allegedly threatened to kill her if she revealed the incident to anyone.
Tirunelveli POCSO Special Court sentenced 59-year-old pastor Selvaraj to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 for sexually abusing a seven-year-old girl in 2020.
#கிறிஸ்துவ_பாதிரியாருக்கு
7 ஆண்டு சிறை..!!திருநெல்வேலி வடக்கன்குளத்தில் 8 வயது சிறுமிக்கு பாலியல் தொந்தரவு கொடுத்த 58 வயது கிறிஸ்துவ பாதிரியார் செல்வராஜ்க்கு, 7 ஆண்டு சிறை தண்டனை விதித்தது போக்சோ நீதிமன்றம்… pic.twitter.com/hfnNhdnBBP
— Praveen Kumar G.L💚🧡 (@praveen_kgl) June 11, 2026
A head constable attached to Arumuganeri Police Station in Thoothukudi district was suspended for sending obscene messages to a woman who had come to lodge a complaint. She uploaded an audio clip of their conversation on social media.
TVK party member Vinith Muthuraj (23) was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a Plus Two student while she was alone at her home.
After a video went viral on social media, police arrested an Anganwadi worker on June 5 after she was caught on camera attempting to cover a child with a gunny bag in a bid to make him stop crying after he had been left at the Anganwadi centre in Pavoorchatram by his parents.
படிக்க செல்லும் குழந்தைகளின் தலையில் சாக்கு பையை வைத்து மூடி துன்புறுத்தும் இந்த ஆசிரியை மீது நடவடிக்கை எப்போது திரு.ஜோசப் விஜய் அவர்களே? pic.twitter.com/uGa0T0wKfT
— BJP Tamilnadu (@BJP4TamilNadu) June 5, 2026
The video was shot by a passer-by on his mobile phone. BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan urged the Tamil Nadu government to review the functioning of Anganwadi centres.
It is a matter of major concern that Tamil Nadu recorded 419 rape cases in 2024, besides 24 cases under sexual intercourse by deceitful means and 33 cases of attempted rape.
