Police in Chennai have arrested two individuals, including a minor, for the alleged repeated sexual assault of a young woman with an intellectual disability over several months. The horrific crime, which has left the survivor three months pregnant, came to light in the Kelambakkam area last Sunday.
How the Assault Was Discovered
The incident was reported after the survivor's mother, a daily wage labourer, took her daughter to a hospital as she was suffering from persistent dizziness and vomiting. A subsequent medical examination confirmed the pregnancy. It was then that the survivor revealed the traumatic ordeal she had been subjected to by her neighbours.
The survivor disclosed that two men living nearby had been sexually assaulting her for months. They took advantage of her being alone at home, as her mother left for work every day. The accused, identified as a 21-year-old sewage treatment plant operator and a 17-year-old daily wager, would visit the house frequently, both individually and together, to carry out the assaults.
Threats and Police Action
The perpetrators reportedly threatened the woman, warning her not to reveal their actions to her mother. This silence allowed the abuse to continue until her pregnancy symptoms became impossible to ignore.
Based on the formal complaint lodged by the survivor's mother, officials from the Kelambakkam All Women Police Station swiftly moved to apprehend the accused. The 21-year-old man was remanded to judicial custody on Monday. The minor accused was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, which ordered his placement in a government observation home.
Aftermath and Ongoing Care
The survivor has been admitted to a government hospital for necessary medical treatment and care. The case has sent shockwaves through the local community and highlights the extreme vulnerability of persons with disabilities to such predatory crimes.
This arrest underscores the critical need for protective measures and support systems for individuals with intellectual disabilities, especially when their caregivers are compelled to be away for work. The police investigation into the matter is ongoing.
