Published Oct 12, 2026 | 6:35 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 12, 2026 | 6:35 PM
NFIW representatives address the media after filing a complaint over the alleged sexual assault of an anti-SIR protester in Chennai.
The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) has lodged a complaint with the Chennai Police Commissioner’s office, alleging that a male police inspector sexually assaulted a woman protester during a demonstration against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls held at Sivananda Salai in Chennai on October 10.
The protest was jointly organised by the All India Students’ Federation (AISF), the oldest student organisation in India, and the All India Youth Federation (AIYF).
South First had reported on Sunday morning that a male police officer had allegedly sexually assaulted a woman protester during the demonstration held in Chennai on Saturday.
Following the report, officials from the Chennai Police Commissioner’s office contacted South First to obtain details of the incident.
On Monday, October 12, a delegation from the NFIW, including its Tamil Nadu state president G Manjula, South Chennai district president and journalist Kavitha Muralidharan, submitted a written complaint at the Police Commissioner’s office in Egmore, Chennai.
In the complaint, the organisation alleged that the woman protester was participating in a march towards the Chief Electoral Officer’s office when police personnel placed barricades to prevent protesters from proceeding.
As protesters attempted to cross the barricades, an unidentified male police inspector, whom the woman said she could identify, allegedly tried to stop another woman protester walking ahead of her. The protester pushed the inspector aside and continued moving forward.
The complaint alleged that when the protester subsequently crossed Sivananda Salai, the same inspector attempted to stop her. He allegedly brought both hands towards her breasts and squeezed them while trying to restrain her.
According to the complaint, the incident left the woman shocked and frightened. She immediately pushed the officer away and moved away from the spot. She subsequently experienced severe pain in her breast area, the complaint stated.
The organisation further alleged that when the woman reported the incident to another police inspector at the scene, the officer failed to take action and responded, “Police personnel working with us would not behave like that.”
The organisation has sought the immediate registration of a formal complaint and an impartial investigation into the allegations.
It has urged the police to examine duty rosters, deployment records and other official documents to identify the inspector who was on duty at the location on October 10, 2026.
The complaint has also called for all available evidence to be preserved, including CCTV footage from the area, video recordings held by the police, media footage, and photographs and videos recorded by protesters.
The organisation has sought statements from eyewitnesses, women who were accompanying the complainant, other protesters and police personnel deployed at the scene.
It has also requested that a medical examination be arranged, if the woman wishes, to assess the physical pain she reportedly experienced, and that relevant medical records be preserved.
The NFIW has called for a separate inquiry into the alleged failure of the police inspector who received the complaint at the scene to register it or inform senior officers. It has sought departmental action if any dereliction of duty is established.
The complaint further requests that the woman’s statement be recorded in accordance with legal procedures, preferably in the presence of a woman police officer, to avoid requiring her to recount the incident repeatedly without necessity.
The organisation has also sought written updates on the investigation and action taken, and called for appropriate instructions to be issued to police personnel to safeguard the bodily integrity, safety and legal rights of women participating in democratic protests.
Following the submission of the complaint to the grievance section at the Police Commissioner’s office, Additional Commissioner of Police B Shamoondeswari, IPS met the woman and the representatives accompanying her.
According to the complainants, the Additional Commissioner assured them that she would forward the case to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the crime unit for a detailed investigation and order an examination of the CCTV footage.
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(Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
