Two men, including a notorious ‘A-category’ rowdy who had recently been released from jail, were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly gang raping a 14-year-old girl near Madhurantakam in Chengalpattu district earlier this week, police said.
The accused have been identified as Kaka Balaji and Damodhara Perumal. According to police, the incident occurred around midnight on Monday when a 17-year-old boy from Tambaram was riding a two-wheeler with two girls aged 14 and 16 as pillion passengers.
Police said the three were heading towards Keezhakandai near Madhurantakam when the two accused, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, began following them near Devathur. Alarmed by the pursuit, the boy tried to speed away, but the vehicle skidded off the road and crashed near Athiwakkam.
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The accused allegedly caught hold of the boy and assaulted him. However, he managed to escape from the spot with the 16-year-old girl on the motorcycle, leaving behind the 14-year-old.
Taking advantage of the situation, the accused allegedly abducted the minor and took her to the Athiwakkam lake area, where they sexually assaulted her through the night before fleeing.
Early on Tuesday morning, locals found the girl in a distressed condition and rushed her to the Chengalpattu Government Hospital for treatment. Doctors at the hospital informed the police, who recorded the survivor’s statement.
Following a complaint from the girl’s parents, a case was registered at the Melmaruvathur All Women Police Station. A special investigation team was formed to track down the suspects. During the probe, police analysed mobile phone activity near the Athiwakkam lake area at the time of the incident and examined CCTV footage from surrounding locations.
Investigators identified one of the accused as Balaji, also known as ‘Kaka Balaji’, and arrested him from a hideout near Avadi on Wednesday.
Police sources said Balaji is listed as an ‘A-category’ rowdy in the history sheet of Kuduvancheri Police Station and has over 15 cases pending against him, including attempt to murder, theft and robbery.
Based on information obtained during Balaji’s interrogation, police later arrested the second accused, Damodhara Perumal, from the Mariputtur area.
Officials said the two men had previously met in Chengalpattu District Jail. Balaji had been arrested in January in connection with a case involving alleged threats with a knife and extortion near a liquor shop in Kuduvancheri. Perumal, meanwhile, had been arrested about six months ago in a temple jewelry theft case.
After being released from jail, the duo allegedly continued their association and resumed criminal activities. Police said they had consumed alcohol near Madhurantakam on Monday night before noticing the teenagers travelling on the two-wheeler and following them.
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