ABVP Appeals to Governor RN Ravi for Justice in Anna University Sexual Assault Incident

Chennai, Jan 1 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu faction of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) convened with Governor R.N. Ravi on Wednesday, presenting a memorandum that calls for justice for an Anna University student claimed to be a victim of sexual assault.

In their memorandum, ABVP requested steps to guarantee safe and secure campuses for female students.

The document, delivered by ABVP's national secretary, Shravan P. Raj, underscored the incident of sexual harassment at Anna University and raised concerns regarding the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu.

It also expressed condemnation of the arrest of ABVP members who were participating in peaceful demonstrations.

The memorandum insisted on a swift conclusion to the investigation into the sexual harassment case and emphasized the need for complete justice for the victim.

Additionally, it urged the implementation of measures to enhance safety on university and college campuses, including the immediate appointment of vice-chancellors to educational institutions.

Other requests included stringent actions against drug abuse in schools, the prevention of political meddling in educational settings, and the assurance that all educational establishments maintain a safe environment for students.

It is important to note that a second-year engineering student from Anna University was assaulted on Christmas Eve.

The victim and her senior male friend were seated in a secluded area of the campus after attending a midnight Christmas mass at a nearby church.

According to the girl's complaint, the perpetrator attacked her male companion, violently assaulted him, and then dragged the girl to a nearby bush before raping her.

The police took immediate action, apprehending a 37-year-old roadside biriyani vendor, Gnanashekaran, for the crime.

Notably, Tamil Nadu BJP president, K. Annamalai, staged a dramatic protest outside his residence in Coimbatore, flogging himself six times to symbolize the worsening law and order in Tamil Nadu and to draw attention to the assault on the Anna University student.

Annamalai declared that he would embark on a 48-day fast and visit all six sacred sites of Lord Murugan as part of his demonstration.

The Tamil Nadu BJP president criticized the Tamil Nadu police for leaking the FIR related to the sexual assault case, arguing that this breach intentionally exposed the identity of the 19-year-old victim, an engineering student at Anna University.

He alleged that the accused, Gnanashekaran, was not listed as a rowdy despite multiple past cases, attributing this to his connections with DMK leaders.

The Tamil Nadu BJP chief, who previously served as an IPS officer, claimed that Gnanashekaran was affiliated with the DMK and provided evidence to support his assertion.

He further asserted that the DMK was attempting to distract attention from the deteriorating law and order situation in Tamil Nadu by fabricating a false narrative about a North-South divide.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) is set to present a report to the Indian government regarding the sexual assault incident at Anna University.

NCW member Mamta Kumari and her team returned to Delhi after conducting an extensive two-day investigation into the assault that occurred on the Anna University campus.

Speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport, Mamta Kumari stated: "We explored every corner of Anna University and executed a comprehensive investigation. We engaged with the affected girl and her family, collecting all necessary details. We also consulted with the Governor of Tamil Nadu to address the issue."

"A detailed report of our investigation will be submitted to the central government via the National Commission for Women. Anyone found guilty will face severe penalties. It is shocking that despite having over 20 cases against him, the accused was permitted to remain at large.”

Mamta Kumari also raised the question, “Why didn’t the government take action sooner? The central government will ensure stringent measures against anyone committing crimes against women.”

She expressed optimism that justice would prevail and that the guilty parties would be held accountable.