Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu) [India]: DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi commended the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for taking prompt and unbiased action in the case of an alleged sexual assault of a student on the Anna University campus in Chennai.
Speaking to media, Kanimozhi confirmed that the accused had been arrested swiftly following the Chief Minister’s directive.
“The Chief Minister has ordered action against the culprit without any bias. Accordingly, the accused has been arrested and action has been taken…The Chief Minister and DMK continue to work for women’s rights and women’s education and to increase their rights. The Chief Minister and the government are very concerned about women. That is why immediate action has been taken,” she said.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Saturday announced the formation of a two-member fact-finding committee to investigate the incident involving a 19-year-old student. The committee will assess the case details, examine the circumstances leading to the crime, and evaluate the actions taken by authorities.
The NCW, which took suo moto cognizance of the alleged assault, stated in its release:
“The National Commission for Women has taken suo moto cognizance of a media report regarding a disturbing incident at Anna University, Chennai. According to the report, a food vendor named Gananasekran allegedly entered the university campus, sexually assaulted a 19-year-old girl, and physically assaulted her male friend. The accused is said to be a habitual offender with a history of such crimes. The NCW has already issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu DGP in this regard.”
The committee, consisting of Mamta Kumari, a member of the NCW, and Praveen Dixit, a retired IPS officer and former DGP of Maharashtra, is scheduled to visit Chennai on Monday, December 30. It will interact with officials, the victim, her family, friends, and NGOs to gather information and recommend preventive measures.
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising three IPS officers to probe the case.
Protests have erupted following the incident. On Friday, Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai staged a dramatic protest by whipping himself in front of his house to denounce the DMK government’s handling of the case.
The alleged assault occurred on Monday night when the student was talking to her friend on the campus. She filed a complaint with the police on December 23, stating that an unidentified man had threatened and sexually assaulted her.
Chennai Police confirmed that a suspect had been arrested, and a case was registered at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station (AWPS). The investigation is ongoing.