The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of the ‘horrific gang rape’ of a minor girl in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district and sought a detailed action taken report from the police within five days.
The commission said the ‘brutal assault on a 15-year-old girl in Cheyyar has raised grave concerns about the safety and security of young girls’, underlining the urgent need for stronger preventive and protective measures against such serious crimes.
Condemning the incident, the NCW stated that violence against minor girls is a grave violation of human rights and leaves deep physical, emotional, and psychological trauma on survivors. “Such incidents demand immediate accountability and the strictest legal action,” the commission said in a post on the social media platform X.
NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has directed the Director General of Police of Tamil Nadu to ensure prompt registration of an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. She also called for the immediate arrest of all accused, a fair and time-bound investigation, and comprehensive support for the survivor, including medical care, counselling, rehabilitation, and protection for her family.
An official said the Brahmadesam police registered a case under the POCSO Act on Tuesday and have been questioning three individuals in connection with the incident. Authorities are also reviewing CCTV footage to identify and trace the accused.
The survivor, a resident of Kancheepuram district, had been staying at her grandmother’s house in Cheyyar at the time of the incident. She is currently undergoing treatment at the Kancheepuram government hospital.
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The case has also triggered political reactions, with opposition parties targeting the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government over law and order concerns.
Expressing shock, Edappadi K Palaniswami, general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), said there had not been a day in the last five years when he had not raised issues related to law and order, women’s safety, and drug-trafficking. He alleged that if the government truly cared about citizens, it would have ensured better protection for women, and added that he would eliminate drug-related problems within three months if his party returns to power.
Meanwhile, Narayanan Thirupathy, chief spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the incident exposed what he termed the ‘failure and administrative incompetence’ of the DMK government. He demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and called for strict punishment in accordance with the law.
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