A 19-year-old Anna University student was reportedly sexually assaulted, and her male friend was attacked by two unidentified men inside the university campus in Chennai on December 23. The shocking incident came to light when the survivor filed a police complaint on Tuesday.
According to police sources, one suspect has been arrested in connection with the case. The accused allegedly filmed the assault and used the video to blackmail the victims. Police have registered a case and formed special teams to apprehend the perpetrators. Authorities claim they are close to identifying the second suspect.
On Wednesday, student groups, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Women Welfare Federation, staged protests outside Anna University, demanding swift justice and stricter campus safety measures. University registrar J Prakash issued a statement assuring full cooperation with the ongoing police investigation.
The case sparked political outrage, with Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai criticizing the state government for the “dire state” of law and order. “Tamil Nadu, under the DMK government, has become a breeding ground of unlawful activities and a haven for criminals. Women don’t feel safe in the state anymore,” Annamalai tweeted, accusing the administration of mismanaging police resources to target opposition voices instead of ensuring public safety.
Annamalai further alleged negligence on the part of the university, claiming that CCTV cameras near the crime scene were non-functional. He demanded a public statement from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and urged him to take responsibility for addressing the safety of women in the state. “The BJP demands that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu takes responsibility and updates the people on the status of this case. Justice must be ensured for the survivor,” he added.
The incident has raised serious concerns about campus security in educational institutions and the broader issue of women’s safety in Tamil Nadu. Activists and political leaders continue to call for immediate action to ensure justice for the survivor and prevent similar incidents in the future.