AIADMK's Palaniswami Condemns Sexual Harassment Incident at NIT Trichy Girls' Hostel, Demands Strict Action

Chennai, August 30 – AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has strongly condemned the recent incident of sexual harassment at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Trichy, where a contractor allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior in front of a female student at the girls' hostel. The incident has sparked outrage, leading to protests and demands for action.

According to reports, the incident occurred when the electricity supply at the NIT Trichy girls' hostel was disrupted, and a contractor was called in to repair the issue. While the contractor was working, he allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct in front of a student who was studying alone in her room. The student immediately raised an alarm, attracting the attention of other hostel residents, who confronted the man and later reported the incident to the authorities.

The incident escalated when the hostel warden, identified as Baby, reportedly made derogatory comments about the student’s attire and scolded her instead of addressing the complaint. Enraged by the warden's response, students organized a protest outside the residence of NIT Director Akhila, demanding action against the warden and the contractor.

In a statement, Palaniswami expressed his shock and dismay at the incident, criticizing the Trichy police for allegedly mishandling the complaint filed by the student. He also pointed out that this is not an isolated incident, referencing a recent case in Chennai where a student was sexually harassed by a migrant worker in a school restroom.

Palaniswami blamed the DMK government for the increasing number of crimes against women and girls in Tamil Nadu, accusing the administration of failing to enforce strict measures to curb such incidents. "The DMK government appears to be waiting for a 'Nirbhaya' incident to take action under the Nirbhaya Act," he said, urging the government to take immediate and severe measures to prevent further occurrences of such crimes.

He further demanded that the perpetrator at NIT Trichy be brought to justice and called for stringent actions to ensure the safety of women on campus. Palaniswami's statement reflects growing concerns about the safety and security of women in educational institutions across Tamil Nadu