A series of brutal gang rape incidents along the sacred Giri Pradakshina path in Arunachalam has deeply shocked and alarmed devotees. Over a span of just 24 hours, a criminal gang targeted two young women using lethal weapons before dragging them into an adjacent forest area. A married woman was assaulted on May 30, followed by a 23-year-old woman on May 31. The perpetrators went on to film the victims stripped of their clothing to blackmail them for money, alongside robbing them of their jewelry. While local police have apprehended eight suspects so far, the horrifying nature of the crimes has sparked widespread fear regarding public safety at the pilgrimage site.
Despite a massive surge in the number of pilgrims traveling to Arunachalam from neighboring states—particularly during full moon days—the local administration is facing severe criticism for failing to scale up security infrastructure. Critics point out that large stretches of the 14-kilometer-long circumambulation path and nearby bypass roads remain completely unlit and lack CCTV surveillance at night. These dark zones have reportedly become operational grounds for local anti-social elements and drug-addled gangs. Furthermore, non-local devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka frequently face severe language barriers and systemic extortion from auto drivers and lodge operators, making it exceptionally difficult for them to approach local authorities or report distress.
Following massive public outcry and protests across Tamil Nadu, the newly sworn-in Chief Minister Vijay intervened, demanding a high-level report from top police officials. Expressing zero tolerance toward offenses threatening women’s safety, the Chief Minister ordered stringent legal actions against the accused. He further directed top brass to immediately establish dedicated police outposts, implement continuous round-the-clock patrolling, install high-resolution CCTV networks, and set up high-mast lighting across the entire 14-kilometer stretch to permanently prevent such atrocities and restore the confidence of visiting pilgrims.
