The officers had already been suspended and were in judicial custody. During the investigation, they reportedly confessed to the crime.
Published Oct 02, 2025 | 6:32 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 02, 2025 | 6:32 PM
The incident has triggered widespread shock and anger in the district.
Synopsis: Two Tamil Nadu policemen, who allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted an 18-year-old woman from Andhra Pradesh and her foster mother near the Andhra–Tiruvannamalai border on 30 September, have been dismissed from service. The incident occurred while the women were travelling to the Arunachaleswarar Temple. The officers, currently in judicial custody, reportedly confessed to the crime during the investigation.
Two Tamil Nadu policemen, P Sundar and D Sureshraj, who allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted an 18-year-old girl from Andhra Pradesh along with her foster mother near the Andhra–Tiruvannamalai border in the early hours of September 30, have been dismissed from service.
The officers had already been suspended and were in judicial custody. During the investigation, they reportedly confessed to the crime. Authorities issued orders on Thursday for their permanent dismissal from the police force.
The alleged assault took place in the early hours of September 30. The young woman and her mother were travelling in a goods vehicle carrying plantains to visit the Arunachaleswarar Temple when they were stopped by the two policemen near Aendal bypass.
The officers, attached to Tiruvannamalai East Police Station, interrogated the women and the driver. Although the mother and daughter said they were on a temple visit, the policemen made all three get out of the vehicle “on grounds of suspicion.” The driver, unsure how to handle the situation, left with the vehicle.
The officers then told the mother and daughter that they would take them separately to the temple on their two-wheelers. Instead, they allegedly diverted the women towards Villupuram Road, about three kilometres away.
One constable reportedly pushed the mother into a thorny roadside pit, while the other dragged the young woman to a nearby cremation ground, where both men took turns in assaulting her before fleeing the scene.
Around 4 am, the woman reportedly regained consciousness and staggered onto the road seeking help. Passersby, suspecting her condition, did not intervene. She eventually reached a nearby brick kiln, where workers alerted the 108 ambulance service. The mother also arrived at the kiln, and both were rushed to Tiruvannamalai Government Medical College Hospital.
Following the women’s statements, Tiruvannamalai Superintendent of Police M Sudhakar and Additional SP Satheesh arrived at the spot, launched an investigation, and detained the accused officers.
Officials from the All Women Police Station and Tiruvannamalai East Police Station also inspected the site but reportedly left hurriedly upon noticing media cameras. Vellore Range DIG G Dharmarajan later arrived and questioned the two policemen.
The incident has triggered widespread shock and anger in the district. Locals and devotees expressed outrage that such a crime could occur against pilgrims in a town considered sacred, particularly near the Arunachaleswarar Temple.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
