In what has become a grim incident that had reminded the horrible Pollachi gang-rape case, the Tamil Nadu police have arrested eight persons including two DMK functionaries and three schoolgoers for filming and raping a Dalit woman for seven months. The dreadful crime has come to light after the victim has approached the women's helpline following which the concerned police department was informed. 

The incident has happened in the Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu. A 22-year-old Dalit woman had faced hell for the past seven months after she got into a wrong hand through social media. The friendship has later turned out to be a trap against her as she was filmed, threatened, and raped by a group of men and what is more shocking is the accused include three school students. Based on the complaint, eight people have been apprehended and the probe is on against them. 

According to reports, 27-year-old Hariharan alias Saravanan had befriended the woman over social media and they become friends. Later, Hariharan and the woman had a physical relationship and it was recorded by the former. Hariharan's friends had watched the video and acquired the details of the woman from him. Later, they had called her and forced her to have sex with her by threatening that they will leak the video. It has been reported that they had raped her multiple times between August 2021 and March 2022. 

The victim has then approached the women's helpline and reported about the horrific incident that she had been facing. A police official said that the woman had contacted helpline number 181 and reported the incident. The case was then taken by the Virudhunagar Rural police. The police had revealed a shocking event where the affected woman had reached out to her neighbour, 37-year-old Madaswamy to help her get out of the situation. However, Madaswamy also had used the video and raped her. 

The woman has moved her complaint to the police on March 20 - Sunday and based on her complaint, an FIR was filed against the eight people under sections 376(2)(n) - rape, 354(c) - voyeurism, 354(d) - stalking of the Indian Penal Code and several sections of Prevention of Atrocities (SC/ST) Act. The eight arrested persons are Hariharan, Madaswamy, Praveen (22), Junaith Ahmed (27), an 18-year-old boy, a 15-year-old boy, and two 17-year-old boys. 

These minors are studying Classes 10, 11, and 12 and all the accused belong to Virudhunagar. Juniath Ahmed and Hariharan, the prime accused, are DMK's youth wing functionaries in the district. Hariharan, Madaswamy, Junaith Ahmed, and Praveen were produced before the Special Court and remanded in judicial custody whereas the four minor boys were produced before a magistrate and sent to a correction home. 

After the incident came to light, voices are growing across the state demanding stringent punishment for the accused of the heinous crime. DMK MP Kanimozhi has said that the accused must be punished severely regardless of their identities. She wrote on social media, "The arrest of the accused who sexually harassed a 22-year-old woman in the Virudhunagar district gives a relief. Regardless of their identities, the accused must be punished severely." 

விருதுநகர் மாவட்டத்தில் 22 வயது பெண்ணை பாலியல் வன்கொடுமைக்கு உள்ளாக்கிய நபர்கள் கைது செய்யப்பட்டு இருப்பது ஆறுதலைத் தருகிறது. குற்றம் செய்தவர்கள் யாராக இருப்பினும் கடுமையாகத் தண்டிக்கப் படவேண்டும்.

— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) March 22, 2022