The Tamil Nadu police have denied allegations that two minor girls from the temple town of Chidambaram were subjected to a two-finger test, as claimed in recent media reports. The girls were sent for a medical examination, but they were not subjected to the invasive test, according to a release from the office of the Director General of Police.
The police statement dismissed allegations that the Dikshitars, the priests of the ancient Nataraja temple, were booked by police out of vengeance after the Social Welfare department complained. The police said four cases were registered against the Dikshitars and 11 people, including eight men and three women, were arrested in connection with child marriage under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The release from the DGP’s office said that two of the four underage girls affected by the case were sent for a medical examination by a female doctor, but were not subjected to a two-finger test. The statement also refuted claims that the girls had attempted suicide.
The case, which has been widely covered in Indian media, involves allegations that a 15-year-old girl was married off to a 24-year-old man in April. The girl’s mother filed a complaint with the Social Welfare department, which led to police action against the Dikshitars.
The case has sparked outrage in Tamil Nadu and led to protests by women’s groups and political parties. The Tamil Nadu Governor, R N Ravi, has also commented on the case, saying that the government will take action against those responsible.
The two-finger test, which involves inserting two fingers into a woman’s vagina to check for sexual activity, has been widely criticized by human rights organizations as invasive, traumatic, and medically unnecessary. The test is not recognized by the World Health Organization or any other medical body, and has been banned by several Indian states.
The case is a reminder of the ongoing issue of child marriage in India, which is illegal but still prevalent in some parts of the country. According to a report by UNICEF, India has the highest number of child brides in the world, with around 27% of girls marrying before the age of 18.