New Delhi (Sputnik) — Pollachi, a scenic town in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is in the eye of a storm with the revelation of an appalling scandal involving a gang of men who went on a rampage assaulting scores of girls, video-recording the act and blackmailing the victims with the threats of uploading the videos online, all with utmost impunity, according to the local media.
— Kanimozhi Manoharan (@kani_manoharan) March 11, 2019
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While the scandal has taken a political tint with the opposition blaming the governing AIADMK of trying to shield the accused, the government has taken the matter from the state police and handed it over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the country's apex investigating authority, considering the gravity of the scandal, NDTV reported.
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) March 11, 2019
When she tried to resist, the accused allegedly threatened her with uploading the content online. The woman narrated the incident to her brother, who caught hold of the four accused and thrashed them, forcing them to confess their crime on camera. The video was then uploaded on social media, sparking outrage, with thousands of students taking to the streets demanding immediate action against the accused.
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On Wednesday, National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma wrote to Tamil Nadu Director General of Police T.K. Rajendran underlining the need for strict action against the accused. "It is reported that several girls and women from schools and colleges have been harassed and use (sic) the filmed video to blackmail them. The Commission is seriously concerned about the safety and security of women in the state of Tamil Nadu", read the NCW letter uploaded on Twitter.
"Considering the gravity of the matter, it is requested that appropriate action be taken as per the relevant provisions of law against all of the accused and a detailed action taken a report in the matter be sent to the Commission", the letter further read.
The National Commission for Women has come across a news item captioned “Pollachi sexual abuse case: Goondas Act invoked against the accused” an action taken report has been sought from the DGP, Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/DuHamWBI4A
— NCW (@NCWIndia) March 13, 2019
Four of the accused identified by the complainant have been arrested by the Tamil Nadu police. Police have confirmed that upon interrogation, the accused confessed to having sexually assaulted scores of other women, at least sixty over the course of seven years, according to India Today.
2 of the news reports in the Pollachi Rape case where perhaps 200 women have been raped so far.
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) March 11, 2019
No one has come forward to file a case despite video evidence.
Again because society. “What will happen to the future of the girls?!”https://t.co/tSjNNQoMsfhttps://t.co/wIz03NoQyh
There is also a strong sentiment against the Tamil Nadu police among the people, alleging laxity in handling the case.
Here’s why people are losing hope with Pollachi Police handling the case..
— Pramod Madhav (@madhavpramod1) March 12, 2019
Excerpts of press briefing by Pollachi SP Pandiarajan.. (mindblowingly numb..)
First mistake — He gives out the name of the victim in this edited video. (Victim name edited out..) pic.twitter.com/UhwVMXW4Lu
However, the Police have nabbed the mastermind of the gang and further investigation is ongoing.
#ReporterLive | Police have arrested the mastermind of a gang involved in sexually harassing several women, in #TamilNadu's Pollachi.@madhavpramod1 shares more details pic.twitter.com/XRvBsauRtn
— Mirror Now (@MirrorNow) March 11, 2019
