Chennai: An Anna University student was reportedly raped by two men on campus early Wednesday morning, prompting a police investigation in Chennai. The case is being handled by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Kotturpuram, following an FIR filed under Section 64 of the BNSS Act, which pertains to rape.
According to police reports, the incident occurred when the victim and her male friend were in a secluded area of the university after attending a midnight Christmas mass at a nearby church. The assailants attacked her friend, severely assaulting him before dragging the woman into nearby bushes and sexually assaulting her.
BJP state President K. Annamalai has called for the immediate arrest of the alleged attackers, criticizing the DMK government for fostering an environment where crime thrives and for failing to ensure women’s safety in the state. He expressed concerns that law enforcement is distracted by political pressures to silence dissent.
The Greater Chennai Police faced backlash after claiming to have established comprehensive security measures for Christmas, with over 8,000 personnel deployed. Initial inquiries have involved interviews with the survivor and her friend, and the investigation is ongoing.
This incident occurs amidst heightened scrutiny of the DMK government’s handling of law and order. In a related case, a third-year college student with mental health challenges was allegedly raped by a group of ten men over ten months, with four arrests made so far. Her father filed a complaint after uncovering inappropriate content on her phone. Initially reluctant to share her experience, the victim eventually disclosed that she had been repeatedly assaulted by various men taken to different lodgings and isolated places, leading to the registration of multiple charges against the suspects based on her testimony.