Anna University engineering student sexually assaulted inside campus; search on for two suspects

Two unidentified persons allegedly sexually assaulted a second-year engineering student inside Anna University campus at Chennai on Tuesday night. Chennai city police reportedly registered the case. 

Reports cited senior police officials who confirmed that the alleged survivor was a resident of the hostel on the Guindy campus. The student was on a walk with another person, a fourth-year student on the same campus, after dinner when two persons attacked them. They beat up the male student and assaulted the female student, as per media reports.

Local media reported that the case was registered at the Kotturpuram police station on December 25 under section 64 (punishment for rape) of the BNS, after they lodged a complaint at the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) cell at Anna University. The POSH cell reportedly aided the survivor in providing a statement of the assault to the police. 

Four special task forces were set up to apprehend the suspects, reports citing Kotturpuram assistant commissioner Bharathi Rajan stated. Security footage from the campus was also handed over to the investigating officials.

BJP state president K. Annamalai reacted on social media regarding the incident, "It is absolutely shocking to hear the news of the sexual assault of a student at Anna University, the premier Institute of TN, situated in the heart of Chennai, by two miscreants."

The Student Federation of India (SFI), along with members of the All India Women Welfare Federation, kicked off a protest in light of the incident outside the gates of the Anna University campus in Guindy, Chennai, on Wednesday. The varsity registrar J Prakash in a statement said that the university was extending its full cooperation to the police investigation.

Two arrested for assault on minor in UP

In an unrelated case, the Uttar Pradesh police on Wednesday announced that they arrested two persons—Amit Prajapati (22) and Mantu Yadav (19)—for allegedly luring a 16-year-old girl and sexually assaulting her in Ballia district, UP.

The police said that the incident took place on Tuesday night after the survivor left home in an autorickshaw following an alleged family dispute. The survivor's parent filed a complaint, and the case was registered under the BNS and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

"Both accused, Mantu Yadav and Amit Prajapati, were arrested on Wednesday. Further investigation is underway," said police SHO Rakesh Singh.