CHENNAI: The Chengalpattu district Police on Wednesday arrested the second accused involved in the gangrape of a minor girl in Madurantakam on Monday night.
In a post on X by the police, the arrested man was identified as Y Dhamu alias Dhamodharan (25) of Mariputhur. Police confirmed that only two people were involved in the crime. ‘Kakka’ Balaji, a history-sheeter from Thiruverkadu, was nabbed on Tuesday.
On Monday night, the 14-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped near a waterbody in Madurantakam. Sources said the survivor was travelling with two other teenagers from Tambaram to Keelakandai village on a motorcycle when they were intercepted near Devathur by the accused on another two-wheeler. The assailants, reportedly in an intoxicated state, took the girl to a secluded area near a lake and raped her, police sources said.
While officials remained tight-lipped due to the sensitive nature of the case, sources told TNIE that the survivor reached the Chengalpattu Government Hospital with the help of locals, who called an ambulance on Tuesday morning. The Melmaruvathur All Women Police later registered a case under the Pocso Act and other relevant sections. Seven special teams were formed and CCTV camera feeds were examined to track down the suspects.
In another development, the first bench of Madras High Court comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari said the court would consider initiating a suo motu case if a formal petition is filed with the available information. Advocate AP Suryaprakasam who mentioned the matter said the FIR is inaccessible since the case was registered under the Pocse Act.
The incident attracted widespread criticism from political parties in the opposition, including BJP leader K Annamalai and PMK president Dr Anbumani Ramadoss. Dr Anbumani said the incident reflected the rising crimes against women and children in Tamil Nadu and criticised the DMK government for failing to prevent such offences.