Vijaya Rahatkar. File
| Photo Credit: Niranjana K.P.
After taking suo moto cognisance of the sexual assault on a student on the Anna University campus, the National Commission for Women (NCW), which issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu police seeking an explanation of the steps taken in the arrest of the accused, constituted a fact-finding committee to probe the incident, on Saturday (December 28, 2024).
In a press release, the NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said the committee, comprising Mamta Kumari, a member of NCW, and Praveen Dixit, former DGP of Maharashtra, would investigate and recommend action.
The committee will interact with authorities, the survivor, her family, and other organisations to ascertain the facts. The committee is likely to visit Chennai on Monday (December 30, 2024), the release said.
Minister defends interview
Meanwhile, Law Minister S. Regupathy has said there was nothing wrong with the interview given by Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun pertaining to the case.
“We clarify that the interview was [given] as per the All India Service Rules, 1968…,” Mr. Regupathy posted on social media.
All details of the case have been presented before the Madras High Court, and a special investigation team had been formed on its direction. Investigation is under way, the Minister added.
Mr. Regupathy further said the court was told that the First Information Report (FIR) got leaked due to a technical glitch on the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems portal of the National Informatics Centre, and not by the [Tamil Nadu] Police Department.
Governor visits campus
Governor R.N. Ravi visited the university campus on Saturday. “The safety and well-being of students are non-negotiable,” he said.
According to a release from the Raj Bhavan, Mr. Ravi promised the students that decisive action would be taken immediately for their safety.
He reviewed the security measures at the university and interacted with men and women students separately. He took note of their suggestions to make the campus a more safe and secure place, the release said. He further instructed the university administration to immediately address safety issues raised by students and advised students and their parents not to panic. The Governor-Chancellor also met the Registrar and other faculty members, the release said.
Meanwhile, members of the Social Democratic Party of India staged a protest outside the university campus. As the protest was under way, members of the All India Students’ Federation (AISF), too, arrived at the spot, resulting in some tense moments. The police detained the AISF members and released them later.
Published – December 28, 2024 05:04 pm IST
