The committee, formed on Saturday, includes Mamta Kumari, NCW Member, and Praveen Dixit, IPS (Retd.), former Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra and Special Rapporteur for Maharashtra and Goa at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Chennai (Tamil Nadu): A day after the National Commission for Women (NCW) arrived a two-member fact-finding committee to Chennai to investigate the alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old student at Anna University, the committee arrived in the city on Sunday evening.
The committee, formed on Saturday, includes Mamta Kumari, NCW Member, and Praveen Dixit, IPS (Retd.), former Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra and Special Rapporteur for Maharashtra and Goa at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Mamta Kumari arrived in Chennai via an Indigo flight from Kolkata, while Praveen Dixit flew in from Pune. The committee is tasked with investigating the case, examining the events leading to the incident, and evaluating the actions taken by authorities. It will also engage with concerned officials, the victim, her family, friends, and various NGOs to gather facts and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents. A case has been registered at the Kotturpuram AWPS, and an investigation is ongoing.
The NCW has taken suo moto cognizance of the alleged assault and issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP). On Saturday, the Madras High Court ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) with three IPS officers to probe the case.
According to Chennai Police, the second-year student was sexually assaulted on the Anna University campus on Monday night. One person has been arrested in connection with the incident. In her complaint to police on December 23, the student alleged that an unidentified man had threatened and sexually assaulted her while she was talking to a friend on campus around 8 pm.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo moto cognizance of the incident and dispatched a two-member fact-finding committee to investigate further.
The Tamil Nadu police registered the case at the Kotturpuram All-Women Police Station (AWPS), and an investigation is underway. The Madras High Court also intervened, directing the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising three IPS officers to probe the case. One person has been arrested in connection with the incident, but the authorities are still working to identify others involved, if any.
The incident has raised concerns about safety on university campuses, and the NCW and various NGOs are actively engaged in the investigation to ensure justice for the victim and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
