Special police teams on Tuesday arrested one more accused, A. Sekar (55), on charges of sexually assaulting a 35-year-old unmarried woman with hearing and speech impairment in Pudukottai district on Sunday evening. 

The police had already arrested S. Marimuthu, 55, in the case registered at Alangudi All Women Police Station on a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother.

Four special police teams led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Pudukottai Town sub division, were constituted to arrest Sekar. Both Sekar and Marimuthu hail from Manakollai in Karambakudi taluk in the district.  Acting swiftly, the special teams arrested Sekar on Tuesday, a police press release said.

According to the police, the woman was offered a lift by two “known persons”, Marimuthu and Sekar, in a car belonging to one of them.  “Thereafter, they allegedly assaulted the woman sexually and later abandoned her in their village. Based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother, a case was registered at Alangudi All Women Police Station under sections 87, (kidnapping) 74, (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) 126 (2), (wrongful restraint) 75 (1) (sexual harassment) and 70 (gang rape) of the BNS read with section 92 (b) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. Marimuthu was arrested within 24 hours and remanded to judicial custody” , the release further said.

The victim is undergoing treatment at Government Ranees Hospital in Pudukottai, said police sources.

Earlier in the day, relatives of the victim along with a section of cadre of the Communist Party of India, All India Democratic Women’s Association, Naam Tamizhar Katchi, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi and other outfits staged a road roko at Mazhaiyur Kadaiveedhi for nearly five hours demanding stringent punishment for the accused. 

During the course of the stir, the protesters raised slogans claiming that there was no safety for women.  The protesters also demanded a government job for one of the family members of the victim and compensation for the victim.

Pudukottai DMK MLA V. Muthuraja was among those who took part in the protest that was led by CPI Karambakudi union secretary Sesuraj. The road roko resulted in diversion of traffic for some time, said police sources. Police and revenue officials present at the spot held talks with the protesters. 

The protesters put forth their demands to the Pudukottai Revenue Divisional Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Pudukottai Town sub division. The protesters were assured of speedy action by the police.