Serial rapist, habitual offender and inconsistent reporting of crimes: Warning to women in homes alone!

Serial rapist, habitual offender and inconsistent reporting of crimes: Warning to women in homes alone!

Techie-turned burglar confesses to rape[1]: As usual, the vernacular and local media presented various narratives about a habitual offender, in spite of their skill in reporting and dealing with different subjects. The City police who tracked and arrested a serial offender for his alleged involvement in several burglaries were in for a shock[2]. The 26-year-old man told investigators that apart from indulging in burglary and knife-point robbery, he had also raped several home-alone women at knife-point. A senior police officer confirmed to DC [Deccan Chronicle] that the suspect did confess about raping women[3]. However, police are checking the veracity of the claims and the process to identify and get statements from the supposed victims is underway, police sources said[4]. Police had already received a complaint from one of the victims. “He used to approach lone women in the pretext of seeking an address or asking for water and used to rob them”, a police officer said[5]. A graduate in Mathematics, he is also believed to have indulged in criminal activities in Krishnagiri too. However, in his confession to police, he claimed that he was a “MCA graduate”[6]. He was working in Bengaluru for a few months before he came to the City searching for employment two / three[7] years ago. Further investigations are on.

“I raped a woman in Guindy and not over 50 as projected by a section of the press”: A techie-turned burglar, who landed in the police net in Velachery on 15-11-2017, Wednesday has confessed to having raped a woman in Guindy, said police after corroborating a complaint given by the victim. Denying news reports in a section of the media that he was a serial rapist targeting lone women, the city police made it clear that preliminary investigation had revealed that he raped a woman in Guindy and not over 50 as projected by a section of the press[8].  “The news reports are contrary to the truth,” a senior police officer said. Last Monday, 13-11-2017, a woman complained to the All-Women Police Station, Guindy, alleging that she was raped by an unidentified person, who gained entry into her house while she was alone and robbed her of three sovereigns of gold jewellery. However, Tamil papers specifically mentioned that he raped 50 women, again reportedly based on his confessional statement given to the police. That he could confess differently, as could be noted from English and Tamil media proves that there is something wrong with the media and the police.

The rapist was caught accidentally on the road: On Thursday, 16-11-2017, a man named William lodged a complaint with the Velachery police stating that a youth had robbed him of his mobile phone and ₹8,500 at knife-point. When he chased him, the accused ran away but his voter identity card fell on the road. With this, the police identified Arivazhalagan who stayed at Maduvankarai near Guindy. He was brought to the police station and grilled. He admitted to having raped the woman who had complained to the All Women Police Station. The victim identified him. He was arrested on the same day, 16-11-2017. The accused, a native of Krishnagiri, was working with an IT firm in Bengaluru. He moved to Chennai in 2015. As he was jobless, he resorted to burglary, the police said[9]. He “was working with an IT firm in Bengaluru” implies that he must have possessed required qualifications, unless, he was engaged in some peon like work.

Modus operandi of the rapist: His modus operandi was to gain entry into the house of women staying alone under the guise of enquiring about an address or asking for water. Then, he would rob them at knife-point[10]. This is consistent with the Tamil news reports. In 2014, he was remanded for 15 days after robbing a mobile phone in Krishnagiri[11]. Again in 2015, he was sent to the Central prison in Chennai after he committed burglary at a house in Avadi[12]. All these clearly prove that he has been a hbitual offender, well-known to the police department, as these details are on the record. Arivazhalagan admitted that he committed burglaries in Velachery, Royala Nagar, West Mambalam, Guindy, Saidapet and Kotturpuram. The obscene videos recorded in his mobile phone was also being investigated, police said[13].

The irresponsible reporting of English National Dailies: Nowadays, the responsible press gives the news in different versions, particularly in giving facts and figures, thereby, indifferently helping the criminals and offenders, instead of helping the victims. Perhaps, the advocates appearing for the criminals could cite these divergent, inconsistent and conflicting reports in favour of his client and this would only violate all moral principles, ethics and law of the land.There have been many such reports appearing in “The Hindu” that helped even the terrorists involved in serial blasts and bombing in which many innocents lost their lives, affecting their families. On the other hand, “The Hindu” carried the reports, with the photographs of the wives and children of the terrorists, evidently to create sympathy in the minds of the readers, but, it never carried the pitiable conditions of the wives, children and relatives of the victiims. This type of secular partiality, communal bias and prejudiced reporting noted. Yet, it reports in this way.

Colluding with criminals or helping the victims?: In fact, here, as the women have been the mostly affected losing their chastity, honour, jewels and other things, the media and the press should have reacted in constructive way to help them. It has been a practice that whenever, jewel theft complaint was lodged with the police, they may give a copy of FIR, but, the stolen jewels recovered, that would be distributed only among their known people, VIPs and others. The genuinely lost people are never taken care of. Most of them keep quite, as if it is their fate. Some even think that “stolen jewels” are inauspicious to be received and used. Any away, the police exploit all such sentiments and other factors, as they know the habitual jewel thieves by their technique of stealing. Thus, here, also,as he was arrested twice on the same account, definitely, the police know him. In his raping narratives, he reportedly confessed that he took the girls and women to “private lodges” where he raped them. This goes against the other version that re raped women at knife-point. In other words, the press or the police is trying to plant the point that the victims gave away their chastity “by consent”. This is very immoral and totally wrong precedence is created by them and it would affect the society and deteriorate the victims.

How the women at home should be cautious about these happenings: The following points have been generalized based on the practical occurrences and more exigencies could be added also:

1. The women, who have been alone in their homes shoud be careful about these types of criminals. They should keep it mid the modus opearandi adopted anf adapted by the rapist criminals.
2. They should avoid using social media like facebook, whatsup…etc., as they are not safe for the women and hence, they should not let others to know their cell no.
3. They should dispose of the persons, just by talking behind the grills without opening the doors. When there is necessity that they should be allowed inside, then, there should be somebody in the house, preferably male members.
4. They should be cautious about the Gas, water suppliers, paper boy and others.
5. They shoukldalso be careful about they guys who come for repsring and servicing of electrical lines, pipe lines, AC etc.
6. No unknown persondshould ne lt in on any account. Even womem, particularly coming carring babies should not be allowed.
7. Denotation collectors of all sorts for temples, orphanages etc, should be avoided. As they come regularly and repeatedly, they should not be encouraged.
8. One should be always careful with the persons, who come repeatedly or frequently on one or the other pretexts, because, as they become familiar, that would help them to watch and hatch crime.
9. Thos who come asking for the servant maids, whether they are husbands, relatives and others need not be encourafed. They need not be allowed to sit and wait, on the pretext of meeting them.
10. They have to be careful withe persons, who come under the guise of sales girls, boys etc., as they coukd be also potential criminals.

It is not that we should doubt and suspect all coming to our houses, but, as the days have been changing and the people do not care for any morality, ethics etc., we have to take precaution and be careful.

© Vedaprakash

18-11-2017

[1] This is the title used by “The Hindu”, but, diluted tha rape charges limiting one woman instead of 50, by its explicit way of reporting.

[2] DECCAN CHRONICLE, Chennai: Caught, thief admits to being serial rapist, Published: Nov 17, 2017, 1:45 am IST; Updated: Nov 17, 2017, 7:21 am IST.

[3] http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/crime/171117/chennai-caught-thief-admits-to-being-serial-rapist.html

[4] Asianet.Newsable, Thief caught in Chennai admits to being a serial rapist, By Team Asianet Newsable | 02:11 PM November 17, 2017.

[5] http://newsable.asianetnews.com/tamil-nadu/thief-caught-in-chennai-admits-to-being-serial-rapist

[6] Dinamalr – தினமலர், கத்திமுனையில் பெண்களை கற்பழித்த காமுகன் கைது, Added : நவ 16, 2017  23:52.

[7] As per the Tamil newspapers report.

[8] The  Hindu, Techie-turned burglar confesses to rape, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, CHENNAI, NOVEMBER 18, 2017 01:07 IST; UPDATED: NOVEMBER 18, 2017 01:07 IST.UPDATED: NOVEMBER 18, 2017 01:07 IST

[9] http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/techie-turned-burglar-confesses-to-rape/article20547130.ece

[10] Indian Express, Graduate held for robbing, rapping wonen at knife-point,

By Express News Service  |   Published: 17th November 2017 02:14 AM;   Last Updated: 17th November 2017 08:56 AM.

[11] http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/nov/17/graduate-held-for-robbing-raping-women-at-knife-point-1703231.html

[12] Times of India, Ex-staffer of tech firm raped 50, filmed act: cops, A Selvaraj| TNN | Nov 17, 2017, 04:22 IST

[13] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/ex-staffer-of-tech-firm-raped-50-filmed-act-cops/articleshow/61680207.cms