Thousands of women from across the southern districts gathered in Madurai on Tuesday for a protest march organised by the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), demanding urgent, comprehensive measures to curb sexual violence and drug trafficking.

Demonstrators marched through the arterial stretches of AA Road and DD Road, chanting slogans and carrying banners.

The rally was organised around a core set of immediate safety and systemic reforms. Protesters put forward a list of demands, primarily calling for stricter preventive measures and enforcement laws to halt sexual assault against women and children.

Further, they emphasised the need for immediate judicial redressal, robust legal aid, and comprehensive rehabilitation facilities for all survivors of abuse.

Another major point of the demonstration decried the rising influence of illegal narcotics.

Speaking to reporters, AIDWA central committee member S. Valentina, who led the protest, said, “It is shocking that sexual assaults have been increasing in Tamil Nadu for a month. Gang rapes have increased in various forms.”

They have announced a contact number for the ‘Singapen Padai’. There are already numbers to prevent atrocities against children and women, but they are out of reach, she alleged.

There is sexual harassment even against female police officers of the Singapen Special Force itself. Drug culture has increased in Tamil Nadu.

“They say 717 TASMAC shops were closed, but it is not known where they were closed; they say closed shops have been reopened; an open announcement should be released regarding that,” she stated.

Tasmac shops must be reduced; substance abuse is highly prevalent, and without controlling it, this cannot be prevented. Even if those involved in sexual offenses belong to the TVK, action must be taken without discrimination. Not even 20% punishment is obtained for sexual offenses, Ms. Valentina remarked.

“Sexual assaults have increased in a month. Efforts must be made to prevent it, proper training must be given to the Singapen special force team, and protection must be provided to the people who voted; only 2% conviction rate is obtained in POCSO cases; kangaroo courts are being conducted in various police stations regarding POCSO cases, and we have informed the government about that,” she said.