DMK slams AIADMK government over crime against women

Expressing outrage and shock over the assault, party working president M K Stalin said "Strong (legal) measures are needed to punish the perpetrators."

Stalin, also the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly, in a statement listed out various incidents of crime against women in the state in the recent past.

He alleged that such crimes continued since the AIADMK government did not pay attention to women's safety and security.

Recalling a 13-point action plan of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in 2013 to ensure women's safety and prevent incidents of sexual harassment, the DMK leader alleged the government neither bothered to implement it nor took proper action against the perpetrators.

"People are angry over the present law and order situation in the state," he said, citing the assault of the accused in the rape case involving the 11-year-old girl when they were produced in a court here earlier this week.

He, however, added that none can be allowed to take law into their own hands.

The hearing-impaired girl was allegedly raped multiple times over the past seven months, and 17 of her suspected tormentors were arrested on July 17.

They included a liftman, security guards, plumbers, electricians and other maintenance staff working in the apartment complex, where the girl lived.

Four men were arrested yesterday for the alleged rape of the Russian tourist in Tiruvannamalai. One of them was booked for rape while the rest were held on the charge of molestation.