Trichy: A 40-year-old farmer was arrested near Srirangam on Tuesday for sexually harassing a 24-year-old Dalit washerwoman and then abusing her with casteist slurs after she resisted his advances.
The accused has been identified as B Nagarathinam, from a village near Srirangam.
According to sources, Nagarathinam had been repeatedly harassing the married washerwoman from his village. She regularly laundered clothes on the banks of the Kollidam river. On Monday around 9am, while she was walking near the river, Nagarathinam waylaid her and demanded sexual favours. When she refused, he abused her using casteist slurs.
The woman lodged a complaint with the police. A case was registered at Srirangam police station on Tuesday under Sections 126(2) and 75(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for wrongful restraint and sexual harassment in public. Additional charges were invoked under Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act and sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Nagarathinam was arrested on Tuesday evening and produced before a magistrate who remanded him to judicial custody. Investigation is progressing.
This incident highlights the persistent issue of caste-based violence and sexual harassment faced by Dalit women in rural areas. The swift action by the police in registering the case under relevant laws reflects the legal provisions available to protect marginalized communities. However, activists emphasize the need for stronger implementation and community awareness to prevent such crimes.
