Intruder gang attacks college girl with weapons in Minjur; 4 held

CHENNAI: In a brazen attack, a gang of allegedly intoxicated youth trespassed into a house in Minjur on Tuesday and attacked a 17-year-old girl with a sickle when she raised alarms, leaving her with cut injuries on her arm and forehead. While Avadi city police said they have arrested four accused, the incident was swiftly picked up by the opposition to criticise the government over the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu.

Investigators maintained that the exact motive for the attack remains to be ascertained and claimed that the youth were robbers who attacked the girl as she raised an alarm, while people in the neighbourhood alleged that the criminals sexually harassed the girl.

Around 10.30 pm, two men entered the house in Vallur through the back entrance and went to the first floor where the girl, who is pursuing B Com, was studying for her exams. Seeing the strangers, she cried out loud. The police claimed that they attacked her with a machete in a bid to silence her. She suffered a deep cut on her forearm and also cut injuries on her head, police said.

Hearing her cries, her family members, who were on the ground floor, rushed to her aid. The attackers tried to flee but one of them was caught by the neighbours.

The youth, D Dillibabu (23) alias Rolex, was treated to mob justice before being handed over to the Minjur police. A senior officer said Dillibabu has a previous criminal case.

On Wednesday, the special teams arrested his accomplices, D Lokesh (22), T Muthamizh Selvan (24) and A Sidiq (19). The arrested persons were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.