Girl, 16, drugged, raped by car driver

Trichy: A 16-year-old girl was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted by a 43-year-old car driver in Trichy on Wednesday evening. The girl’s family later beat up the accused.The survivor has two sisters and two brothers, one of whom had become a transwoman. On Wednesday, the survivor went to Kalmanthai Colony to meet her transgender sibling, who resides there with other transpersons.According to police, C Mariselvan, 43, a car driver from Thirupuvanam, had arrived at the house in a car to drop off a transwoman. Around 5pm, he took the survivor in the car on a tour. He allegedly gave her a juice, after which she lost consciousness. Mariselvan then sexually assaulted her and abandoned her unconscious on the roadside near Keeraikadai Bazaar around 6.30pm.On learning about it, one of her sisters rushed to the spot and took her to Trichy Government Hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the girl’s other brother and his friends took the accused to Kalmanthai Colony and assaulted him. Mariselvan sustained injuries and was later admitted to the GH. Later, the family members, relatives and public protested near the hospital demanding strict action.Based on a complaint filed by the survivor’s sister, a case has been registered at Fort All Women Police Station under BNS Section 87, and various sections of Pocso Act, as well as provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Meanwhile, Trichy city police rebutted news reports claiming the survivor was gang-raped, and said only Mariselvan was involved in the alleged assault.Opposition leaders including DMK MP K Kanimozhi, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss condemned the incident and questioned the law and order in the state.