K Annamalai (Image/PTI)
NEW DELHI: Former BJP leader K Annamalai on Monday directed blame towards people from northern India, claiming that there has been a “growing involvement of people from North Indian states in crimes” reported across Tamil Nadu. His remarks came in the wake of the sexual assault and death of a three-year-old girl in Tiruvallur district. A 19-year-old migrant worker from Bihar was arrested in connection with the case. The child later died while undergoing treatment, sparking outrage and renewed debate over law and order and the monitoring of migrant workers in the state.In a post on X, Annamalai cited a series of recent criminal cases in which people from North Indian states had allegedly been arrested and questioned whether the Tamil Nadu government had adequate mechanisms in place to track migrant workers entering the state.”The news of a three-year-old girl child falling victim to sexual assault near Kummidipoondi in Thiruvallur district and succumbing to her injuries despite treatment has caused profound shock and grief,” he wrote. “One individual from a North Indian state has been arrested in connection with this crime. Similarly, a person from a North Indian state who sexually harassed a 10-year-old girl child in Athanur, Kanchipuram district, has also been arrested,” Annamalai added. Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief leader also claimed that there had been a noticeable rise in such incidents in recent months.”Over the past few months, there has been a noticeable increase in the involvement of individuals from North Indian states in crimes occurring across various parts of Tamil Nadu.”Just this June, a young man from a North Indian state was arrested in Chennai for attempting to snatch a gold chain from an elderly woman. Last month, cases including the sexual harassment of a young woman near Tambaram, the molestation of a woman alone at home near Thiruvallur, the gang rape of a 61-year-old woman near Chennai’s Velachery bus stand, the arrest of three North Indian labourers including a 15-year-old boy in a case of sexual harassment against a mentally challenged woman in Chennai’s Velachery, and the sexual harassment of a woman drawing a kolam outside her home in Chennai’s Maduravoyal area have raised numerous questions,” he said.While praising the police for making arrests, Annamalai said the state government needed to focus on preventing such crimes before they occurred.”The police’s prompt identification and arrest of those involved in such crimes is commendable. However, what measures will the Tamil Nadu government take to prevent these crimes from occurring in the first place?” he asked.Annamalai said movement of workers between states was natural and happened across India, but argued that the government should maintain a proper record of migrant workers employed in Tamil Nadu.”It is only natural for people from various states to come to Tamil Nadu for employment, just as people from Tamil Nadu travel to various places for work. But are there proper details available regarding individuals arriving in Tamil Nadu from other states — details held by the contractors employing them or by the company owners? Are these details provided to the Tamil Nadu government? Shouldn’t this be regulated?” he said.Calling for tighter oversight, Annamalai urged the state government to create a comprehensive database of migrant workers.”I urge the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate action on this matter. Owners employing labourers from North Indian states must furnish the government with comprehensive details, including how many such labourers are present, in which cities they are located, their native places, current workplaces and places of residence.”I strongly emphasise that the Tamil Nadu government must systematically monitor this,” he added.The comments come amid heightened political attention on crimes against women and children in Tamil Nadu. The death of the three-year-old girl has triggered criticism from opposition parties, which have accused the ruling TVK government of failing to ensure public safety and demanded stronger action to prevent such incidents.
