Thanjavur gang rape case: Woman SI suspended; Pappanadu residents stage hunger strike, shops down shutters

CHENNAI: In the wake of the recent gang rape of a 23-year-old woman in Orathanadu of Thanjavur district, the Director General of Police (DGP) has issued an order to remove Sub-Inspector (SI) Surya from her temporary post.

The young woman was gang-raped on August 12 and the police arrested four persons including a minor thereafter.

Meanwhile, residents of Pappanadu alongside members of various political parties on Monday staged a one-day hunger strike while traders at the Pappanadu bazaar downed shutters, demanding protection and compensation for the family of the gang rape victim, and severe punishment for the accused.

They were concerned over the fact that the victim and her family were receiving threatening calls from several persons. 

The protestors also called for stringent action to curb drug and ganja trafficking, which they claimed is prevalent in the area, attributing it as the reason behind such heinous crimes. They charged that ganja is widely available across Pappanadu village and claimed that the police failed to control the menace.

The residents went on to allege that the police could arrest only four but two more accused are moving freely as the police failed to include them in the list of accused. “We need to know the reason why those two persons were missing from the list,” asked Rani, one of the residents who spoke during the protest.

Another resident Neelavathy said that an arrested accused was involved in ganja peddling.

During their agitation, they also demanded financial compensation and a government job for the victim as part of the justice and rehabilitation process.

Meanwhile, when the victim had complained, Pappanadu Woman Sub Inspector Surya was lethargic and she neither registered a case nor informed her higher officials. Subsequently, DIG (Thanajvur Range) Ziaul Haque suspended Surya and transferred her to the Armed Reserve police.

Background of the case

According to sources, the Thanjavur woman was reportedly gang-raped by Kavidasan (25), his friends Divakar (27), Praveen (20) and a 17-year-old boy on August 12. When she attempted to flee, they threatened her with dire consequences and brandished a broken bottle and knife. They also recorded the crime on their phone.

The woman managed to escape and complained to the Orathanadu All-Women Police during the late hours of August 12.

Based on the complaint, the police registered a case and arrested Kavidsan, Divakar, Praveen, and the minor boy.

While the minor was sent to a borstal school, the other three were lodged in prison under judicial custody.

On Saturday, the District Munsif-cum-Judicial Magistrate Court in Orathanadu sent a notice and sought an explanation from the Pattukkottai GH which reportedly failed to provide medical assistance to the victim, as claimed by her relatives.

She was later taken to the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital where she is currently undergoing treatment.

(With inputs from Online Desk)