CHENNAI: A second engineering student of the prestigious Anna University was allegedly sexually assaulted and her friend was beaten up by two men inside the campus in Guindy while she was coming back after attending prayers at a nearby church on Christmas Eve.
Sources said one accused was arrested while a hunt was on to nab the other.
The incident that happened in the heart of Chennai sent shockwaves across the State, and triggered protests by students and stinging criticism by opposition parties and even allies of the ruling DMK.
According to police sources, the college students, one male and the other female, were returning to the campus after attending prayers at a nearby church on Christmas Eve when the incident happened. When they were on a secluded stretch, the accused intercepted them which took them by surprise. After attacking the boy, the accused sexually assaulted the girl.
The students filed a complaint at Kotturpuram police station and were admitted to a private hospital. As the news about the sexual violence against a student of the prestigious university, that too in the heart of the city, spread instantly, senior police officers rushed to the scene and began monitoring the investigation.
Officials said the investigators suspect that the perpetrators could have followed the two students from the church and struck at the spot that is secluded. Police teams are checking CCTV footage from the vicinity to ascertain the identity of the suspects.
Meanwhile, the SFI, the students’ wing of the CPM that is an ally of the ruling party, went on a protest, which was withdrawn after the senior officers with the city police informed that one of the accused was already nabbed while the search is on to catch the other.
