CHENNAI: Kancheepuram police on Monday arrested three persons including a minor boy for allegedly raping a 21-year-old married woman in Cheyyur villlage near Madurantakam, about 80 kms from the city.
The accused Kamal (31) and Nagaraj (25) are daily wage labourers, while the minor boy, a 16 year old, works at a eatery in the area.
According to the local residents, the trio abducted the woman on December 11 while she was herding cattle and raped her.
“After sexually assaulting her, they tied her up and dumped her near a lake bed in Thandalam and fled the scene. The woman was rescued by her relatives who happened to be passing by the area,” Bharathi Anna, Secretary, Untouchability Eradication Front told Express. A complaint was initially filed at the Sithamoor police station after which the trio was nabbed by police.
However, they were let off after the intervention of influential people in the area, locals alleged.
Meanwhile, activist groups protested against the mishandling of the case by the police, after which the Melmaruvathur All Women Police took over the investigation.
“The medical reports were not conclusive. But it was true that there was an attempt to rape the woman. The three of them were arrested on Monday,” a police officer said.
The minor boy was produced before a magistrate in the Chengalpattu court and sent to the Government home for boys in Kellys, Chennai. The other two were remanded in the Puzhal prison, police said.
AP Cops Nab Red Sanders Smuggler
Andhra Pradesh police arrested a red sanders smuggler from Vyasarpadi, a former employee of Chennai customs for allegedly masterminding a smuggling operation there.
A team from AP police reached the city on Monday to enquire the whereabouts of Selvam (48) alias Pottu Selvam, police sources said. A probe showed that the AP police had arrested another smuggler Kapoor, in Cuddapah two days ago. He had reportedly told the police there that the operation was masterminded by Selvam.
Based on the tip, the AP police team rounded up Selvam’s residence at BV Colony, Vyasarpadi and with the help of local police, secured him early morning Tuesday. City police said that he was taken to Andhra for further enquiry.
Selvam was arrested by the Cuddapah police two years ago with 500 kg of red sanders, police said. Selvam subsequently came out on bail and was dismissed from service.