Pollachi Racket: AIADMK Worker Expelled; Local Colleges Shut

Pollachi, Tamil Nadu: On Wednesday, a number of students, lawyers and members of women’s organisations took to the streets demanding action against the accused.

A day after the Tamil Nadu government gave its nod for CBI probe, authorities on Thursday declared holidays in local colleges over the issue of sexual abuse of nearly 60 women in Pollachi fearing violence following the surfacing of explosive details.

The Madras High Court on Thursday rejected a plea for a special investigation team probe, saying the Central Bureau of Investigation has already been told to probe the case. 

The CBI is to investigate the two cases which were originally registered at the Pollachi East Police Station, Coimbatore district, last month.

On Wednesday, a huge number of students, lawyers and members of women’s organisations took to the streets demanding action against the accused.

Students of Sri GVG Visalakshi College for Women in nearby Udumalaipettai protested on Thursday hit the streets shouting ‘We want justice.’

Students have boycotted classes and staged dharna demanding quick justice for victims and punishment to the accused.

Advocates practicing in Coimbatore staged a demonstration outside the court complex seeking an inquiry committee with a woman judge of the Madras High Court as its head to probe the case, reported sources.

The district administration ordered to close of colleges in the town, 535 km from Chennai, to prevent a repeat of yesterday’s protest by students demanding action against the perpetrators of Pollachi sexual abuse and blackmail case — Thirunavukkarasu, Sabarirajan, Vasanthakumar, Satish — now in custody and also others who are still out.

After the news broke, it’s been days now that shady rumours and video clips have been circulating on social media as to how a number of women from college teachers, students, even working professionals and others were sexually assaulted, harassed and blackmailed by the gang.

“The culprits should be tortured. The culprits should be given the harshest punishment,” said a student.

AIADMK member expelled

Expelled AIADMK member A Nagaraj who was arrested and let out on bail for attacking the brother of a girl who had complained to the police, told reporters in Coimbatore, “I am not in hiding. I want to clarify that I am not in the video that started circulating sometime back.”

Videos have also emerged that apparently show that the victims were lured to secluded spots and molested, filmed in the process, and blackmailed for money.

On Wednesday, the Madras High Court had slammed the media over coverage of the crime.

The AIADMK government decided to hand over the investigation to the CBI, soon after the probe was transferred to the Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department (CBCID) from the Coimbatore police, said an official.

Stay tuned for more updates!