♔The BJP’s state unit in Tamil Nadu has stepped up its criticism of the ruling DMK government over the alleged sexual assault of a student at Anna University in Chennai, with the party's women's wing announcing plans to take out a “justice rally” from Madurai to Chennai. The rally, set to begin on January 3, aims to demand justice for the 19-year-old victim and hold the accused accountable.
🌠The rally, organized by the BJP’s state Mahila Morcha and led by its chief, Umarathi Rajan, will cover a distance of approximately 450 kilometers from the southern city of Madurai to the state capital. The party's state president, K Annamalai, condemned the incident and alleged that the accused individuals had links to the ruling DMK.
ꦍHe further accused the authorities of attempting to “conceal the truth” surrounding the case. Annamalai posted on X that the rally would culminate in the presentation of a memorandum to Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, outlining the demands of the women’s wing.
ꦅ“This is not just a fight for justice for one victim, but for the safety and dignity of every woman in Tamil Nadu,” said Annamalai. He called on the government to take immediate and serious action in response to the assault, demanding a fair and transparent investigation.
NCW concludes inquiry, suggests measures
💧The National Commission for Women (NCW), which had taken the suo moto cognizance of the case, concluded its inquiry on Monday. A fact-finding committee, comprising former Maharashtra Director General of Police Praveen Dixit and NCW member Mamta Kumari, visited Chennai to probe the matter. Dixit, who is part of the committee, made several key recommendations aimed at improving safety measures for women on university campuses and beyond.
𝄹Speaking to the press, Dixit emphasized the importance of “access control” in educational institutions, particularly to prevent unauthorized entry by potential perpetrators. He also suggested that colleges and universities install CCTV cameras and conduct regular security audits to enhance safety. The panel called for improvements in the handling of sexual assault cases, including the use of audio-visual technology to record FIRs and ensure that police do not distort facts during investigations.
𓃲Dixit further recommended that sexual assault cases be fast-tracked through the judicial system, with special attention given to the appointment of reputed prosecutors and the supervision of investigations by senior officers, preferably IPS officers. He also highlighted the need for more preventive measures, including the installation of CCTV on public buses, alarm buttons in cabs, and the promotion of the 112 India emergency assistance app.
ꦉA row erupted last week in Chennai after a 19-year-old student was sexually assaulted inside the campus of Anna University, a premier technical varsity. The incident prompted outrage from opposition parties and civil society. A person has been arrested in connection with the incident.
