Child rape case: Family demands death penalty to all 17 accused

CHENNAI: Family members of the 12-year-old Chennai girl, who was repeatedly raped by more than 20 men for seven months, have demanded that all the rapists should be awarded death penalty.
Talking to TOI on Thursday, the survivor's elder sister and mother said the family moved out of the neighbourhood where the crime happened.
"My girl has been complaining of severe body pain.We have taken her out of her school till the police formalities get over," said the mother.
The sister said she suspected something was wrong when he saw lift operator Ravi Kumar touching the younger girl's hand in a strange way.
"I asked her why she didn't protest when the stranger touched her. That's when she said she had undergone more severe experiences. She told us the horror stories one by one," the elder sister said.
She informed the parents and they approached the Secretariat Colony police station. The complaint was later forwarded to the Ayanavaram all-woman police station.
Senior counsel S Ananthanarayanan, who is representing the girl in court, said the accused had threatened the girl with knives and given her sedatives before sexually assaulting her repeatedly.
Activist Apsara Reddy said she was helping the family which is clueless while dealing with police and child welfare committee officials.
"I've taken up this case after the Hasini murder case, in which prime suspect Dhasvanth was convicted for murdering a raping and murdering a girl," Reddy said.
So far 17 men have been arrested; police are on the lookout for at least four more.
Officials at Puzhal prison said none of the accused seemed to be showing any sign of remorse. One of them suffered from severe wheezing and was shifted to a hospital. "We are keeping a close watch on all the accused. They have been kept in separate cells in the same block," said an official.
On information that the accused had sedated the girl repeatedly, police teams have been making inquiries at pharmacies in and around Secretariat Colony and Ayanavaram about people who have bought prescription drugs, especially sedatives.
The security guard is suspected to have bought these drugs from a nearby pharmacy.
Police said it was the 60-year-old lift operator, Ravi Kumar, who started the assault. He later brought in his acquaintances, who also raped the girl.
Ravikumar had earlier worked at a maternity hospital, where he reportedly learned about the use of certain medicines.
"He knew about some drugs given to women during labour," said a police officer. "We are investigating what kind of drugs he had given the girl."