Rape of 12-year-old girl: Flat occupants take over security

CHENNAI: At the end of a week that began with the shocking revelation that security guards and elevator operators had gang-raped a 12-year-old girl for seven months in a 300-flat complex in Purasawalkam, residents had by Friday formed a task force for security and maintenance on the premises.
They sent a letter to other apartment associations to highlight the lessons they learned and the need to be proactive about security.They urged residents of other flats to take security as a collective responsibility, asking them to look out for each other and to not be afraid to question anything that appears suspicious.
The letter called for vigilance, and asked parents and grandparents to be aware of the risks involved in entrusting the safety of their children to service providers.
Stating that strangers can be dangerous, they plan to regularly hold awareness campaigns on a variety of topics including, for children, on appropriate and inappropriate touching.
They also appealed to residents to cooperate with police, as they are best equipped to deal with criminals.
Social activists have raised concerns after a few media reports revealed the address of the 12-year-old rape survivor. The girl’s family moved house in the middle of the week.
A Narayanan of NGO ChangeIndia wrote a letter to the DGP and the city commissioner, asking that police personnel be directed not to reveal the identity of rape victims. Activists also asked the media to not to publish or broadcast any personal information about victims of sexual assault.
Publishing such information is punishable under Section 23 of the Pocso Act, Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act and IPC Sections 228A and Section 228A.