New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the man arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old Anna University female student in Chennai of being a “repeat offender and functionary of the DMK”.
The Tamil Nadu police arrested Gnanasekaran, 37, of Kottur, who operated a biryani stall near the Anna University campus.
The accused reportedly got into the university campus, beat up the second-year engineering student’s male friend, and then dragged the female student into a bush before sexually assaulting her.
A debate is raging over a sexual assault incident taking place inside the campus of such a reputed university. The incident has also sparked protests, and a political slugfest over women’s safety in the state.
Taking to X, BJP state president K Annamalai shared a photo of deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and other DMK leaders with the alleged accused.
He said: “A clear pattern emerges from the number of such cases in the past.” The BJP state chief pointed out that a criminal gets linked closely to local DMK functionaries and then becomes a member of the party.
அண்ணா பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில், மாணவி பாலியல் வன்கொடுமைக்கு ஆளான வழக்கில் கைதாகியுள்ள ஞானசேகரன் என்ற நபர், ஏற்கனவே இது போன்ற குற்றங்களில் பல முறை ஈடுபட்டவர் என்பதும், அவர் திமுகவின், சைதை கிழக்கு பகுதி மாணவர் அணி துணை அமைப்பாளர் என்பதும் தெரிய வந்துள்ளது.
தமிழகம் முழுவதும், இதுபோன்ற… pic.twitter.com/K1ahEoIqE0
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) December 25, 2024
He added, “All the cases registered against him get suppressed, and he gets leeway by not being categorised as a history-sheeter or kept on the watchlist of the local police station.”
Annamalai also alleged that police do not probe the existing cases against him due to the “pressure” from the local DMK leaders and ministers, which gives him the liberty to “commit further crimes”. “How long should the people of TN put up with this? Will Thiru @mkstalin ever take any responsibility?” the leader asked.
Protest over student’s assault
Several students, including members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), protested in front of the university, raising the pitch for justice for the survivor and effective measures taken to ensure students’ safety on campus.
On Tuesday, police detained AIADMK workers along with former governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, BJP state vice president Karu Nagarajan and other saffron party leaders, for staging protest against the sexual assault of the teen Anna University student by a “DMK executive”, Annamalai said. Speaking to reporters, BJP’s Tamilisai said that the police action was “atrocious”, and alleged that they wanted to “crush the voice” of the protesters.
Annamalai pointed out that officials leaked the FIR, which had details of the survivor because the culprit belonged to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.”DMK has failed in its basic duty to protect the details of the victims. This is not only against individual rights but also an illegal act. The Chief Minister @mkstalin is fully responsible for this,” he fumed.
He hit out at the DMK government and chief minister Stalin for “engaging in such despicable and unscrupulous activities to protect a DMK sex offender”.
DMK’s response to the allegations
DMK spokesperson A Saravanan told media outlet NDTV that a photo with the party leader does not imply culpability of the party. He added that the accused has been arrested, and he will be dealt with strictly.
Taking to X later, Saravanan said, “No matter who did the wrong, the Tamil Nadu police will take action! Those who cannot shake the DMK politically continue to spread false allegations that law and order have deteriorated.
