Anna University rape case: BJP leader Annamalai flogs himself, vows not to wear footwear until ousting DMK from power
Annamalai flogged himself to protest the Tamil Nadu Police's handling of the Anna University rape case, where a 19-year-old student was sesually assualted inside the campus on Christmas Eve. The BJP has accused DMK of trying to shield the accused.
Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai on Friday staged a unique protest in Coimbatore by flogging himself with a whip six times over the Anna University rape case. In videos posted online, Annamalai, who is clad in a green dhoti, can be seen taking a whip from a party worker and whipping himself repeatedly.
VIDEO | BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai (@annamalai_k) whips himself outside his residence in Coimbatore to condemn the police, and the state government for their 'apathy' in handling the case of sexual assault of a student of Anna University.#TamilNaduNews
¡ª Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 27, 2024
(Full video¡ pic.twitter.com/v3G3DD3nn9
What Annamalai said
"Anybody understanding the Tamil culture will always know these are all part of the land. Flogging ourselves, punishing ourselves and putting ourselves through tough rhythms are all part of this culture. This is not against any person or thing but against a continuous injustice that is happening in the state," Annamalai said.
#WATCH | Coimbatore | Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai says, "Anybody understanding the Tamil culture will always know these are all part of the land. Flogging ourselves, punishing ourselves and putting ourselves through tough rhythms are all part of this culture. This is not¡ pic.twitter.com/NGkYUhDtUj
¡ª ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2024
Anna University rape case
A protest has been simmering in Tamil Nadu over the sexual assault of a 19-year-old engineering student inside the Anna University campus on Christmas Eve.
The victim and her male friend were sitting in a secluded area of the Anna University campus after attending a midnight Christmas mass at a nearby church when the suspect, Gnanashekaran, assaulted her.
CREDIT: BCCL
Gnanashekaran, who allegedly has several criminal cases against him, attacked the male friend, brutally assaulting him, before dragging the girl to a nearby shrub and raping her.
The Tamil Nadu Police had come under criticism for handling the case after the FIR was leaked, revealing the identity of the victim.
The BJP has accused the DMK of trying to shield Gnanashekaran, who allegedly has close ties to leaders of Tamil Nadu's ruling party.
CREDIT: BCCL
Annamalai vows to oust DMK
On Thursday, Annamalai, who is a former IPS officer, had announced that he would not wear footwear until the DMK is ousted from power in Tamil Nadu. The 40-year-old, who removed his shoes at a press conference, also said that he would pray at all six temples of Lord Muruga in Tamil Nadu and fast for 48 days.
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Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.
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