December 30, 2024: The ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu is under heavy criticism following the sexual assault of a 19-year-old student at Anna University, Chennai. A two-member delegation from the National Commission for Women (NCW) has arrived to investigate the incident, which has sparked outrage across the state.

The NCW formed a fact-finding committee on Saturday after taking cognizance of the crime through media reports and social media outcry. The delegation, comprising NCW member Mamata Kumari and former Maharashtra Director General of Police Praveen Dixit, reached Chennai on Sunday evening to begin their inquiry.

The team is set to examine the circumstances leading to the assault, scrutinize the actions of university and law enforcement authorities, and interact with the victim, her family, and NGOs. Additionally, they will propose measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

In a strongly worded statement on Thursday, the NCW condemned the attack, expressing solidarity with the victim and her quest for justice. The panel criticized the Tamil Nadu Police for allegedly failing to act on previous complaints against the accused, Gnanasekharan, a 37-year-old habitual offender.

“The inaction of the Tamil Nadu Police on earlier cases involving the accused emboldened him to commit this heinous crime,” the NCW stated, raising questions about the state’s law-and-order situation.

The incident has placed the DMK government under scrutiny, with opposition parties and activists questioning the administration’s commitment to ensuring safety for women. The women’s panel has also flagged concerns about how the accused, with a known criminal background, was able to access the university premises.

As the NCW probe continues, public demand for swift justice and stronger preventive measures has intensified. Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has yet to issue an official response to the allegations and the Commission’s concerns.