Under video threat, Dalit woman allegedly raped repeatedly by 8 men in TN

In an incident reminiscent of the Pollachi rape case, a 22-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly repeatedly  raped by eight men including two DMK functionaries and four school students in Tamil Nadu’s Virudhunagar district. On a complaint allegedly raised by the victim, the arrests were made on Monday, March 21.

The arrested persons were identified as Hariharan (27), Junaith Ahamed (27), Praveen (21), Madasamy (37) and four other minor boys studying in Classes X, XI and XII, all hailing from Virudhunagar.

It is alleged that Hariharan, a local DMK functionary, befriended the woman and enticed her to a secluded place, where he persuaded her to have sex with him. According to police, Hariharan filmed the same and circulated it among his friends.

Later, Hariharan and his friends threatened to share the videos on social media, it is alleged. According to police, they used that ploy for the four men and four minor boys to sexually assault her on several occasions over the last couple of months. Hariharan and Junaith are said to be DMK youth wing functionaries in the district.

Further trouble

The victim, who is working in a private company, approached Madasamy, a driver, whom she was acquainted with. In the pretext of warning the men, Madasamy obtained the videos from them. He then used the videos to threaten the victim and raped her. The victim then lodged a complaint with the women’s helpline (number 181) on Sunday, based on which the police initiated an inquiry. 

According to the police, the incidents began in August 2021 and lasted till March 18, 2022. 

Case registered

Based on a complaint from the victim, the police registered a case against all the eight people on charges of rape under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The case has been registered under sections 376(2)(n) (rape), 354(c) (voyeurism), 354(D) (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code, read with 66 (e) (violation of privacy) of Information Technology Act and 3(1)(w)(1) (punishment for offences atrocities), 3(2)(v) (punishment for offences atrocities) of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) (SC/ST (POA)) Act.

While Hariharan, Junaith Ahamed, Praveen and Madasamy were produced before the Special Court judge for cases booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of  Atrocities) Act and remanded in judicial custody, the four minor boys were produced before a magistrate and sent to a correction home in Madurai. Investigations are on, and more details are awaited.

விருதுநகர் மாவட்டத்தில் 22 வயது பெண்ணை பாலியல் வன்கொடுமைக்கு உள்ளாக்கிய நபர்கள் கைது செய்யப்பட்டு இருப்பது ஆறுதலைத் தருகிறது. குற்றம் செய்தவர்கள் யாராக இருப்பினும் கடுமையாகத் தண்டிக்கப் படவேண்டும்.

— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) March 22, 2022

Meanwhile, DMK MP Kanimozhi condoled the incident (in a tweet), saying: “Strict action must be taken irrespective of who has committed the heinous crime.” The only consolation here is that all the accused have been arrested, she added.

Pollachi case

It may be recalled that in 2019, a similar crime had taken place in Pollachi in Coimbatore district, where a group of youth allegedly lured women, enticed them to a secluded place, sexually assaulted them and filmed it. Later, they threatened them with the videos.

That case occurred when the AIADMK was in power and allegedly involved party functionaries.