CHENNAI: Amid ‘strong doubts’ that there might be more persons involved in the Anna University sexual assault case apart from the accused arrested, the state government and the police should ensure a transparent investigation, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan told reporters on Thursday.
This statement comes in the wake of protests by opposition parties, especially AIADMK, which have adopted the slogan ‘Yaar andha sir’ (Who is that sir), indicating the alleged involvement of another person in the crime.
Talking to reporters at the airport, Thirumavalavan urged the state government to prioritise the safety of women on educational campuses. He said the Anna University incident has caused great shock and anguish even though the accused has been arrested.
“We urge the government to pay more attention to providing appropriate security to students staying in hostels in schools, colleges and university campuses,” Thirumavalavan said. “The accused must remain in custody until the investigation is completed, charge sheet filed, and trial concluded,” he added.
Thirumavalavan said the government is denying permission for the opposition parties to protest as they might politicise the issue. “However, the VCK is of the view that opposition parties should be allowed to protest,” Thirumavalavan said.
Sowmiya among PMK cadre held
Chennai: Hundreds of PMK women cadre, including Sowmiya Anbumani, were arrested on Thursday for staging stir against the sexual assault without police permission. The arrests drew condemnation from leaders of political parties. Sowmiya told reporters, “They arrest us instead of arresting the real culprits. How many more women will fall victim to such crimes?” A big police force is deployed to arrest us, but police do not act with the same urgency when it comes to nabbing criminals, she alleged.