In recent times, Tamil Nadu has experienced a troubling increase in reports of sexual harassment within its educational institutions. Incidents that were once reported annually have now escalated to daily occurrences. This surge is evident from numerous cases highlighted on social media platforms and covered by select print and visual media outlets.

Despite the growing number of reported cases, many incidents remain unreported. Victims' families often choose silence due to fears of social stigma, concerns about future prospects, political pressures, monetary inducements, and intimidation from the accused's relatives, supporters, and political connections. These factors contribute to a culture of silence, allowing perpetrators to evade accountability.

A netizen recently highlighted the severity of the situation by posting on X (formerly Twitter) that within a span of 36 hours during the third week of February, there were 18 reported cases of harassment and rape, involving 14 minors and four women. This alarming statistic underscores the increasing vulnerability of women and children in the state.

Social media activist Sanghi Prince, known for his outspoken criticism of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government, stated, "Sexual assaults and harassment cases are increasing in schools. When will the Education Minister turn his attention to addressing them? Most of the accused are from the DMK party. If he takes action, the entire DMK party will be in prison." 

In a recent incident, law enforcement authorities booked a guest lecturer from an aided college in Palayamkottai under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The lecturer allegedly sent inappropriate messages and made unsolicited phone calls to a minor undergraduate student during late hours, exemplifying the misuse of authority within educational settings.

Similarly, in Dharmapuri, a mathematics teacher from a government higher secondary school was arrested under the POCSO Act. This action came after more than ten students lodged complaints through the school's grievance box, highlighting the importance of accessible reporting mechanisms for students to voice their concerns safely.

These incidents are not isolated. In Krishnagiri district, three government school teachers were arrested for the gang rape of a 13-year-old student. The headmistress reported the crime after visiting the girl's home due to her prolonged absence from school. The victim is currently receiving mental health support, and the accused face charges under the POCSO Act.

In one shocking incident, three teachers from a government school in Krishnagiri were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 13-year-old student. This case has left parents and locals reeling, as trust in those meant to protect and educate children has been shattered.

Meanwhile, in Chennai’s Ashok Nagar, a troubling event unfolded when Tamil teacher G. Sudhakar (43) from a private school was arrested on charges of sexually abusing a ninth-standard boy. The teacher’s actions went unnoticed for some time, adding to the distress of the victim’s family and the school community. The abuse came to light when the boy fell ill due to injuries and was admitted to a hospital, where doctors discovered the cause. It was only after this medical revelation that the truth surfaced, prompting swift action against the accused, who now faces serious consequences.

The incidents aren’t limited to just girls—boys are falling victim too. In Krishnagiri, a class teacher chased an eighth-grade boy and abused him, a horrifying ordeal that sparked outrage among parents. They didn’t stay silent; they organized a protest, demanding justice for the boy. Their voices were heard, and the teacher has now been booked under the POCSO Act, a law designed to protect children from such crimes. The anger and fear among the parents were palpable as they stood together, unwilling to let this injustice slide.

In yet another distressing case, two 11th-grade students of a government school were arrested on February 12 for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl from class 7 in Attur, Salem district. The assault took place on 22 January, but it didn’t come to light immediately. The school headmaster, who concealed the incident, has now been arrested after the parents reported it to the district child welfare and top police officials. The headmaster’s failure to act added another layer of betrayal to this tragedy. The students were held under the POCSO Act, and a search is ongoing for another student named by the victim, showing that the authorities are still piecing together the full scope of this crime.

Further south, in Thoothukudi district, the situation was just as grim. Michael Boarding Hostel cook Sureshkumar (47) was arrested for sexually abusing six Scheduled Tribe (ST) girl students residing in the hostel. The hostel management’s inaction only deepened the wound, leaving the girls vulnerable for far too long. It was only after a complaint was filed at the all-women police station that justice began to take shape, exposing the failure of those in charge to protect their students.

The troubling trend continued with seven college students arrested under POCSO charges for the alleged sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl in Coimbatore district. This incident highlighted how the problem extends beyond school walls, reaching into higher education spaces where young women should feel safe to learn and grow.

Looking back, earlier cases also paint a bleak picture. A mathematics teacher at a government higher secondary school in Dharmapuri and a 52-year-old teacher at a government primary school in Namakkal were arrested for sexually harassing female students. These educators, entrusted with shaping young minds, instead preyed on their students, leaving lasting scars. Similarly, a physical education teacher, Adaikkalam (44), was arrested for sexually torturing girl students studying in classes 6–10 at a government school in Annavasal, Pudukottai district. The betrayal of trust in these cases is hard to fathom, as parents send their children to school expecting safety, not danger.

In one alarming case, a DMK functionary was arrested under the POCSO Act for sexually harassing a 14-year-old girl in Thirupattur. This incident has sent shockwaves through the community, raising questions about the safety of young girls even in their own neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, in Chennai, another distressing story emerged when Chennai police arrested a man on 11 February for sexually harassing his stepdaughter. The victim’s mother shared a heart-wrenching account, explaining that her second husband had abused her daughter multiple times when she was not at home. She revealed that the child was born in 2011 from her first marriage, and after parting ways with her first husband, she had remarried, only for this tragedy to unfold. The betrayal of trust in this family has left many shaken, imagining the pain this young girl must have endured in silence.

Over in Salem, Velu (55), a lab technician at a government medical college, has been suspended for sexually harassing medical students. The authorities stepped in after a thorough investigation by the Visakha Committee, which confirmed the allegations against him. This case highlights how even places of higher learning, where students should feel safe to chase their dreams, are not free from such threats.

The problem doesn’t stop there—it’s spreading far and wide, touching everyone from low-ranking police constables to high-ranking officials. Similar kinds of cases are coming to light, ranging from lower-ranking police constables to top-level IPS officers. A glaring example is IPS officer D. Magesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic North) in Chennai, was suspended after two female traffic police constables lodged a sexual harassment complaint with the DGP. The news hit hard, but his wife came forward with a different side of the story, claiming, “My husband is a kind-hearted man who has helped many people. When a woman constable sought help due to her poor background, he provided her with gold, clothes, gifts and IPC tickets. He also arranged an interior decorator for her new home. She later demanded a lump sum payment in lakhs, which he refused.” Despite her defense, another woman constable has also reportedly filed a complaint against him. After a detailed inquiry by the Visakha Committee, led by Civil Supplies CID DGP Seema Agarwal, the allegations were found to hold weight. Now, DGP Shankar Jiwal is working on the next steps, figuring out whether to register a case and what legal actions should follow.

The outrage over these incidents reached a boiling point during a public event in Coimbatore. On 14 February, at a gathering to honor the victims of the 1998 serial bomb blasts, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai didn’t hold back. He declared, “Many sexual assaults are being reported in educational institutions and other places. The DMK government has failed to safeguard the people. The rulers will be thrown out in the 2026 assembly elections. If people vote for the BJP, we will ensure their safety.” His words carried the frustration of a community tired of feeling helpless, pointing fingers at the current government for not doing enough.

Annamalai didn’t stop there—he took to X to drive his point home even further. In a post, he wrote, “The schools of Tamil Nadu, which are supposed to shape future generations, are in a pathetic state. The rising incidence of sexual crimes against girls is a telling indictment of the government’s apathy towards school education. When will the School Education Minister take his responsibilities seriously and implement concrete measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our children?” His message struck a chord with many parents and citizens who feel that schools, once seen as safe havens, are slipping into chaos under the watch of those in power.

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai didn’t mince words when he took to social media, saying, “Women of all ages, from elderly women to small children, are not safe in Tamil Nadu. Anti-social elements have no fear of the police, whose hands are tied.” His statement reflects the deep frustration many feel about the rising tide of crimes against women and children, painting a picture of a state where lawbreakers roam freely while law enforcement struggles to respond.

Meanwhile, efforts to address these crimes within the education system are underway. The Tamil Nadu School Education Department is set to release a report on the action taken against 225 teachers accused of sexually harassing students over the past decade. This report promises to shed light on a troubling decade-long pattern. Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi has made it clear that there’s no room for leniency, announcing that teachers charged with sexual offences could lose their degrees. Breaking it down further, an early report reveals that 80 primary school teachers and 175 middle and higher secondary school teachers face charges of sexual assault, abuse, or harassment. If these allegations are proven true, upon confirmation, all their educational certificates will be cancelled, a move that could strip these individuals of their ability to teach ever again. It’s a strong step aimed at cleaning up the system and protecting students from those meant to guide them.

The opposition isn’t sitting quietly either. AIADMK has planned a protest on 18 February against the DMK government’s failure to prevent sexual assaults against women and children in Tamil Nadu. This demonstration shows how fed up people are with what they see as the ruling party’s inability to keep citizens safe. Families and communities are looking for answers, and the AIADMK is stepping up to demand them, hoping to pressure the government into action.

On the legal front, changes might be coming too. The Tamil Nadu government is considering amending prison rules to ensure that prisoners convicted of rape or offences under the POCSO Act will no longer be eligible for premature release. This proposal signals a tougher stance on punishment, making sure those found guilty of such serious crimes serve their full time behind bars. It’s a response to growing public outcry, as people want justice that lasts, not shortcuts that let offenders back onto the streets too soon.

But beneath all this, there’s a darker layer complicating the fight against crime. Critics point out that police powers are constrained due to the involvement of numerous ‘Sirs’ – a term that emerged after the Anna University campus sexual assault case, referring to politically powerful men with high-level connections. These shadowy figures, often linked to the DMK and its allies, are said to be pulling strings behind the scenes. In most cases, the accused are allegedly from the DMK and its allied parties, and their reach doesn’t stop at sexual assault and harassment—it extends to drug peddling, abductions, murders and other crimes. The influence of these so-called ‘Sirs’ casts a long shadow, making it hard for justice to take root.

The fear this creates among police officers is real and raw. A senior police official once confided, “We have families to support. If we take action, we receive calls detailing which schools our children attend and our wives’ daily routines, threatening us to back off while flaunting their political connections. If we proceed, we face either transfer to remote areas, demotion to insignificant posts, or false charges of corruption and sexual harassment. We are forced to toe their line.” His words reveal the unbearable pressure law enforcement faces, caught between doing their job and protecting their loved ones from retaliation. It’s a heartbreaking glimpse into why progress feels so slow—those tasked with upholding the law are themselves trapped.

A chilling example of this interference came recently when a senior ADGP woman IPS officer’s chamber was set ablaze for exposing irregularities in Sub-Inspector recruitment. The fire didn’t just destroy her office—it wiped out all printed and electronic documents, leaving nothing but ashes where evidence once stood. Afterward, the government proceeded with its previously prepared report, brushing aside the officer’s findings as if they never existed. This brazen act underscores the lengths to which powerful forces will go to silence those who challenge them, leaving citizens to wonder who’s really in control.

These stories weave together a tapestry of a state in crisis, where the innocent suffer, the guilty thrive, and those meant to protect are shackled by fear. The road ahead looks tough, but the voices demanding change are growing louder every day.