Tamil Nadu witnessed a horrific crime as a four-month pregnant woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by two men and thrown out of a moving train. The shocking incident, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, has triggered widespread outrage and a political war of words in the state.

The victim, who was traveling to Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, was attacked when the Coimbatore-Tirupati Intercity Express was passing through Jolarpettai in Tirupattur district. According to reports, the woman was on her way to the washroom when she was accosted by two men who sexually assaulted her. She screamed for help and attempted to escape, but the perpetrators chased her and eventually pushed her out of the moving train in Vellore district.

The woman sustained serious injuries, including fractures in her hand and leg, as well as head injuries. She was rushed to the District Government Hospital in Vellore, where she is currently undergoing treatment. The victim was employed at an apparel company in Coimbatore.

Authorities swiftly launched an investigation, with the Jolarpettai police registering a case and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) examining CCTV footage to identify the culprits. One suspect, identified as Hemraj, has been detained for questioning. According to police sources, Hemraj is a habitual offender with a history of criminal activities.

The incident has sparked sharp political criticism, with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami condemning the ruling DMK-led state government for its alleged failure to ensure women’s safety. “The news that a pregnant woman was sexually assaulted by two men and then pushed off a train when she tried to scream is shocking. It is the height of shame that women in Tamil Nadu cannot walk safely on the road, cannot go to school, colleges, or workplaces, and now cannot even travel by train,” he said.

Palaniswami further accused the state government of failing to curb crimes against women and called for stringent legal action against the accused.