Chennai: Man Arrested for Alleged Rape of Anna University Student on Campus

Chennai, Dec 25 (NationPress) A 37-year-old man has been apprehended for his alleged participation in the rape of a female student on the grounds of Anna University in the early hours of Wednesday, according to an official.

The suspect has been identified as Gnanashekaran, a local roadside briyani vendor.

The incident transpired during the early morning hours as the victim and her male companion were making their way back to the campus following prayers at a nearby church.

The pair was confronted by two assailants on a secluded path.

The attackers physically assaulted the male student and sexually assaulted the female student. The young woman was reportedly dragged to a nearby bush where the rape occurred.

A complaint was later lodged at the Kotturpuram police station, and both students were taken to a private hospital for medical attention. Senior police officials quickly arrived at the scene to manage the situation.

Sources indicated that a search is ongoing to apprehend the second perpetrator.

This incident, which took place in the heart of Chennai, has sent shockwaves throughout the state, leading to protests by students and fierce criticism from opposition parties, including allies of the ruling DMK.

Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai expressed his outrage, calling for the swift arrest of the culprit, stating on X: "Tamil Nadu, under the DMK government, has transformed into a breeding ground for illegal activities and a sanctuary for criminals. Women no longer feel secure in the state, as police resources are directed by the ruling administration to suppress dissent."

The Greater Chennai Police have faced substantial backlash following this incident. Authorities had previously claimed to have installed comprehensive security measures for Christmas festivities, deploying over 8,000 officers on duty.

Police sources confirmed that inquiries are ongoing with the survivor and her companion, with an investigation in progress.

This heinous act occurs amid continued scrutiny of the DMK government regarding the state's law and order conditions.

It is worth mentioning that a third-year college student with mental health challenges was reportedly raped by a group of ten men over a span of ten months.

Four of the suspects have been arrested thus far.

The case gained attention after the victim's father, a single parent employed as a loader, lodged a complaint at the Chintadripet All Women Police Station, which was subsequently transferred to the Egmore Police Station.

The father discovered inappropriate material on his daughter's phone and confronted her. Initially hesitant, the girl eventually disclosed that she had been repeatedly raped by a group of men who took her to various lodgings and secluded locations.

Based on the survivor's account, police have filed a case under nine sections, including those pertaining to the rape of women with mental or physical disabilities and kidnapping.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the survivor met three of the suspects through a mutual college friend in October of the previous year. The men allegedly raped her at various sites. She also reported being assaulted by others she encountered via a social networking application.