Daijiworld Media Network
Mangaluru, March 1: A bandh was observed in Farangipete, near Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district, on Saturday, led by Hindu organisations and the BJP, in protest against the police’s "inaction" following the disappearance of a second-year Pre-University (PUC, Class 12) student.
The student, Digant, went missing on February 25, and his family and local residents have expressed growing frustration over the lack of progress in the investigation.
In response to mounting public pressure, the police have deployed two platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and more than 500 personnel to maintain law and order in the region.
Workers from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bajrang Dal, and the BJP, including women, turned out in large numbers to join the protest, and many commercial establishments closed their doors in support of the bandh.
The protesters have raised concerns about the involvement of a "ganja gang" in the missing student’s case and have demanded that police take stronger action against drug peddlers.
Digant, a student at a private PUC college in Mangaluru, was last seen on the evening of February 25 after he had collected his hall ticket for the board exams. Later that evening, he went to Anjaneya Vyayama Shale but failed to return home.
A bloodstained sandal belonging to Digant was found near the railway tracks, along with his mobile phone, adding to suspicions of foul play. CCTV footage from the Anjaneya temple showed the suspicious movement of a black car, which the protesters believe could be connected to the disappearance.
The Bantwal Rural police, who are investigating the case, have formed three special teams to look into the matter. However, the protests have intensified due to what the demonstrators allege is the police’s initial conclusion that Digant’s disappearance might be linked to exam-related stress. They argue that his family has confirmed he was not afraid of the exams and believe this explanation is insufficient. Additionally, the protesters have raised concerns that the police have not adequately pursued the lead involving the black car.
Dakshina Kannada district Superintendent of Police, Yathish N, has taken over the investigation personally. Over the past two days, police personnel and local residents have conducted extensive searches along the railway tracks in an effort to find any clues. Police have also visited Digant’s college in Mangaluru and gathered information from his teachers and classmates. However, despite these efforts, no significant leads regarding his whereabouts have emerged.
The protesters have issued a warning: if the police do not make significant progress in the investigation within the next two days, they will escalate the protests. This case has sparked widespread outrage in the community, as the search for Digant continues without a clear resolution.