Rape of 11-year-old sparks protests in TN

Even as Delhi continues to witness unprecedented anger by youth against the brutal rape of a paramedic, another instance of rape was confirmed in Tamil Nadu, triggering protests by hundreds of students, led by popular film stars, in Chennai on Sunday.

A 11-year-old girl in Nagapattinam district was the latest victim, whose suspected rape by two teenage boys in that district, was confirmed after a medical test on the victim on Sunday, official sources said. The two youths had entered her house on Friday when she was alone, and “molested and raped her”, the sources said.

The two minor boys, aged 15 and 17, have been sent to a juvenile home, sources said. The sexual assault on the hapless girl came to light when she complained of “pain in her body” on Saturday, following which she was sent for medical examination. Her parents, meanwhile, informed the local police about the incident. The Nagapattinam tragedy came a day after a 13-year-old school girl Punitha in Tuticorin district had been murdered by a local miscreant when she resisted sexual assault on her, the sources pointed out.

With protests in Delhi continuing on Sunday, hundreds of school students and NGO activists took out a protest march in Chennai, condemning the rising cases of rape and demanded stern action against the culprits. The protests were led by artistes and actors including Haritha Dhananjeyan, Suhasini Manirathnam and Poornima Bhagyaraj. Apart from a human chain protest at Elliots beach in the city on Saturday, about 800 people including college students and NGO activists also held a night-long protest, after obtaining special permission from Chennai Police Commissioner S George.