Cases of sexual assault and blackmail of women by a group in Pollachi has come to light. Four men were arrested and slapped with the Goondas Act by the police today afternoon. This comes a day after the magistrate court extended remand for three out of the four of them, who had been arrested on sexual assault charges.
The police believe that at least 15 men, associated with the gang, have been trapping women in Pollachi for the last seven years to assault and blackmail them. Thirunavukkarasu, the prime accused, and his gang were arrested after a 19-year-old girl and her family went to the police when she was sexually assaulted and the act was filmed.
The police seized the accused persons’ mobile phones which had videos of close to 40 women who were blackmailed and asked for sexual favours by the gang. The police has urged women to file complaints if they have been affected by the gang. No one else has come forward yet.
One of the videos from an accused person’s phone was shared widely on social media yesterday. In the video, a young girl was heard pleading to a few people to leave her alone. According to a report by TNM, the police say that the girl’s family does not want to file a complaint.
This video has sparked outrage on with people demanding strict action against the accused. Meanwhile, politicians and others expressed their shock over the alleged political involvement in the release of one of the complainants in the case.
AIADMK’s Pollachi ward office-bearer, A Nagaraj, along with three others had been booked earlier for threatening the girl’s brother against approaching the police with this case. They were arrested on charges of assaulting the brother, and were later released on bail.
DMK leader Stalin, MDMK leader Vaiko and others threatened to organise a protest if the ruling AIADMK government failed to take immediate action against this. AIADMK then announced that Nagaraj will be terminated from membership and all other posts for involving in anti-party activities. They have not yet demanded police action against him.
People have taken to social media to express their outrage over the incident, and to demand strict action against the accused.
The Nadigar Sangam has issued a statement condemning the incidents and has requested the police to act courageously and quickly to ensure justice. The Sangam also extended their support to the police.
Celebrities like GV Prakash said that the accused men would be dangerous to the society if they were released. Karthik Subbaraj said the incident was painful and scary. Kathir, Aishwarya Rajesh, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Jayam Ravi, Siddharth, Sibi Sathyaraj and others responded. Kamal Haasan is said to have visited the DGP to speak about the issue.
I strongly condemn these monsters … மிருகங்களினும் கேவலமான இந்த 4 பேரும் பெண்களை சித்ரவதை செய்து பாலியல் கொடுமைப்படுத்தியது வீடியோ பார்த்து நெஞ்சம் பதைபதைக்கிறது… இவர்களை பொது வெளியில் நடமாடவிடுவது சமூகத்திற்கு பேராபத்து..#arrestpollachirapists #arrestpollachirapists pic.twitter.com/eMCl6sP9W1
— G.V.Prakash Kumar (@gvprakash) March 11, 2019
Cruel, Painful & Scary..Worst part is these pyscho morons were free to do this over years to many women.
World we live in is more spoilt than we think it is.Let the victims get strength to overcome & the Rapists be punished in most cruel way right away!!#PunishPollachiRapists
— karthik subbaraj (@karthiksubbaraj) March 12, 2019
No mercy!! No Support!! for the animals in the human form.. Listening to the voice of the girl has broken the heart. Punishment should create a change for the heartless humans #PollachiSexualAbuse
— kathir (@am_kathir) March 11, 2019
Are u kidding me..?! Time n time again the same bloody crime..N we celebrate women’s day..!! this is what women mean to this society..#pollachirapists you should be skinned to death.!! Is this the kind of world we live in.!?? #DeathPenaltyforrape it’s the only way..!! #disgusted pic.twitter.com/vZqQJb3eFX
— varalaxmi sarathkumar (@varusarath) March 11, 2019
My stand always remains the same.. whether through my movies or my personal opinion, punishment of the highest order for any predators who violate a woman’s right and a child’s innocence. #PollachiSexualAbuse #PunishTheRapists
— Jayam Ravi (@actor_jayamravi) March 12, 2019
Shocked by the #PollachiSexualAbuse case. Hope there is systemic support given so that survivors can come forward and strengthen the case against the criminals who did this. Preying on girls using social media is a growing menace and we must safeguard against it.
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) March 11, 2019
The Pollachi Gang Rape Group is politically connected. They have been making ‘friends’ with women or posing as some ‘travel group’ to gang rape girls. They have also shot videos of it.
One of the victim’s brother was beaten up by the same rapist circle.#PollachiGangRape— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) March 11, 2019
KamalHaasan in DGP office.
Requesting inmediate action on the recent shocking incidents of sexual assault and black mail in Pollachi
A D V E R T I S E M E N T#PollachiSexualAbuse. pic.twitter.com/RdeZDxJdgT
— Ramesh Bala (@rameshlaus) March 12, 2019
#ArrestPollachiRapists so. Shud v still keep. Quite or. who is. Answerable now … ??? pic.twitter.com/6LSSNvyIXm
— aishwarya rajessh (@aishu_dil) March 11, 2019
மாதர்தமை வதைத்தெறிந்த மாண்புமிகு மாக்களை
எரிக்கட்டும் நீதியின் கண்கள்.#JusticeForPollachiVictims— Arunraja Kamaraj (@Arunrajakamaraj) March 11, 2019
That voice just keeps echoing in the ear. You sometimes think evil is just a concept & men are creatures of circumstance & then something like this happens. #ArrestPollachiRapists
— C.S.Amudhan (@csamudhan) March 11, 2019
Gut-wrenching to read news about the #PollachiSexualAbuse. We, as a society have collectively failed for letting monsters like these flourish. Heart goes out to the women. Sorry for what you had to go through. What’s needed now is timebound & merciless judgement!#PunishTheRapists
— KJR Studios (@kjr_studios) March 12, 2019
#PunishTheRapists #PollachiSexualAbuse This cannot keep happening again and again ! #brutalpunishment
— Harish kalyan (@iamharishkalyan) March 12, 2019
Punish those Monsters. #PollachiSexualAbuse
— Thiru (@dir_thiru) March 11, 2019
Very sad and ashamed to live in this society with these MTF monsters .We need to make this issue louder. These rapists and the involved politicians and officials should be punished. #ArrestPollachiRapists or ? them alive pic.twitter.com/IMMqxI2APn
— Metro Shirish (@actor_shirish) March 11, 2019
They should be killed by the gud men out ther who knws to treat women with respect ! How much she suffered and begged calling them as brother ? disgusting human#ArrestPollachiRapists #PollachiSexualAbuse https://t.co/vu23ojLTZR
— suza kumar (@suza888) March 11, 2019
It’s just Horrifying to see what has happened in the #pollachisexualabuse case! These Men cannot be compared to animals, for We have not seen such gruesome creatures before. They don’t deserve to exist let alone Live!!
— Arav (@Nafeez_Arav) March 12, 2019
Image Courtesy: Vikatan
