The state of Tamil Nadu is in a deep shock after it was revealed that a network of rapists were operating from Pollachi. Leaked videos of gruesome sexual violence that happened in Pollachi had been labelled as “sex video” by a leading Tamil daily. But the incident wasn’t akin to porn content. It wasn’t sex. It was criminal and brutal violence on women, and should be called as such
The ‘team’ been operating with a proper strategy and agenda to trap the women in the name of love and friendship. First they would try to gain the confidence of the woman. One of them would meet or befriend the target via mobile. Using fake photos of his ‘family’, he would and gain her trust. The young woman then began to see the perpetrator as a trustworthy family man. After the woman began spending him the ‘teamwork’ started. He would pretend to take her on an outing, but instead take her to a secluded place and rape her, while his ‘team mates’ would record everything on video. The whole gang would take turns raping her, beating her, and then blackmailing by threatening to release the video online. All this seem like those painful movie scenes which we have all become so accustomed to.
The ‘team’ had been operating for more than seven years (can you believe it?) from the same base, trapping more than 60 women, most of them students. It has been revealed that more than 40 videos of torture were taken by these gang rapists the ‘team’.
In one video, a woman is seen sitting, half-naked, beaten, crying, asking “Why?”
In another video, another woman screams in pain as the men assault her again and again with a belt. She calls one of the rapists “Anna”(brother) and begs him not to beat her, saying she will undress just to get him to stop.
Many of these traumatised women are now undergoing treatment with psychiatrists. Fathers are scared. Brothers are worried. Mothers are, well, frightened. And our sisters—the young women who are in constant fear of sexual assault—might say “Welcome to the league“.
All these years, it was social stigma and the inadequacy of our present justice system that prevented any of these women from filing a complaint and bringing these horrific incidents to light. So all these years, all these women were forced to endure these brutal attacks. But better late than never. One brave woman came forward to lodge complaint and it is out in the open now. This woman was assaulted by them inside a car. It just chills me to the bone that if it had not been done each and every passing second a woman would be trapped and subjected to sexual violence by this gang.
So what happens now? The police have arrested only four members of the gang, but the case goes deeper than we imagined. As The News Minute reported, political influence has shattered the the investigation. The jingoistic politicians and the pathetic condition of police does not promise justice. By protecting the perpetrators, justice for the common person seems to have already died. These politicians must realise that it is the people who give them power and authority, and that too only to serve those same people. Technically, politicians are servants to the people. It is time a lesson needs to be taught to them—winning an election doesn’t make you a king. You are not entitled to rape and attack women. You must serve people as per the Constitution.
On the other hand, Indian society needs to evolve. It is the stigma that has led to repeated violence. The fear of being ostracised in a sensitive society is taken advantage by these rapists and their network. So to all men and women, please realise that this is not the culture we want. Today, and I’m sorry to say it, but it feels a bit scary even to look at another man.