Mayiladuthurai District Collector AP Mahabharathi was removed from his post on Friday following widespread outrage over his controversial remarks regarding the sexual assault of a three-year-old girl in the district. The Collector commenting on the incident, which involved a 16-year-old relative of the victim, alleged that the victim provoked the crime.
Mahabharathi’s remarks came during a training program on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on Friday morning. While addressing the recent assault in Seerkazhi, the Collector suggested that the victim’s behavior may have provoked the attack. "I got a report saying that the child spit on the boy's face. That may be the reason. So we have to look both ways," he said. His comments were widely perceived as an attempt to justify the actions of the accused, leading to immediate public backlash.
The alleged assault left the three-and-a-half-year-old girl with severe injuries, including a disfigured face and damage to her eye after she was repeatedly struck with a stone while resisting the attack.
Mayiladuthurai Collector Transferred
Following the uproar, the Tamil Nadu government swiftly transferred Mahabharathi from his position. HS Srikanth has been appointed as the new District Collector of Mayiladuthurai.
Tamil Nadu BJP Condemns Statement
Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai took to social media platform X to condemn Mahabharathi’s statement. "Regarding the incident of a three-and-a-half-year-old child being sexually assaulted in Sirkazhi, the Mayiladuthurai Collector has completely irresponsibly stated that the child is also at fault. On behalf of @BJP4Tamilnadu, we express our strong condemnation to him," he wrote.