Anna University has promised additional security measures on the campus in the wake of a sexual assault on a student on December 23. In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 25, the university said that campus authorities were fully co-operating with the police to nab the accused in the sexual assault of a student within the university’s premises on December 23.
The university said, “Security personnel are always on duty on the university campus. Surveillance cameras are also installed. However, this unfortunate incident has taken place. Additional security measures will be taken at the university level to ensure that such incidents do not recur. We would like to inform you that the safety of all students is always the top priority for Anna University.”
They also said that the Higher Education Department had instructed the Registrar of Anna University to extend full cooperation to the police investigation. “Based on that, the university administration is fully cooperating with the police investigation,” the statement read.
According to the police, an unidentified man filmed the young woman and her male friend on December 23. He then attacked the male friend and sexually assaulted the girl. The assault was also reportedly filmed by the accused, who then used it to threaten the woman.
While Anna University’s statement said that “unknown persons” had threatened and sexually assaulted the young woman, the police told the media that they suspected the involvement of only one person in the crime.
A case was registered on December 24 under Section 64 (punishment for rape) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on the survivor’s complaint. The case is being investigated by the Kotturpuram Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bharathirajan and the Raja Annamalai Puram All Women Police Station (AWPS).