Beltangady: Mentally Ill Santhosh Raped, Killed Sowjanya - SP
Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (VM)
Beltangady, Oct 14: In connection to the rape and murder of 17-year-old Sowjanya, SP Abhishek Goyal confirmed to Daijiworld that the accused Santhosh Rao from Bajagoli, Karakal was indeed the culprit.
Speaking to Daijiworld over the phone, the SP said that during interrogation Santhosh (34) admitted to both raping and murdering Sowjanya.
When asked about the earlier claim that three to four persons were involved in the incident, the SP said that it was not a gang rape but that Santhosh had done it.
On Santhosh's psychiatric condition, he said that even mentally ill people were capable of committing such a crime.
Santhosh will be produced before the judge on Sunday October 14.
Speaking to the media, SP said that Santhosh revealed the truth while interrogating him with the help of him father and a psychiatrist. He said that there are more chances of him committing the crime all alone as he does not mix with anyone.
As per the information received, Santhosh has done his PU studies in science. He is the second among four sons. His father is a teacher and mother is employed in public sector.
Santhosh also holds black belt in Karate. Sources close to the family said that Santhosh is suffering from mental disorder due to some problem that had occurred in the past. He is undergoing treatment since six years.
He is also accused of attempt to rape in Marnad, sources said.
The familiy of Sowjanya claims that Santhosh is not a victim of mental disorder. They say that he is acting in order to save other culprits. It is learnt that Santhosh, on the day of the incident, had been to a hotel belonging to Sowjanya’s relative and had asked for three meals. This raises the suspicion that there might have been two other persons who accompanied him, the family claims.
Even Mallik Jain, Asith Jain and Suresh Gowda, who caught hold of Santhosh and handed him over to the police claim that there were two other people along with Santhosh.
Due to the attack by locals on Santhosh, he has several injuries all over his body, due to which medical investigation is being delayed and hindered. The doctors are finding it difficult to distinguish between the injuries which took place during the murder and the attack.
Police claim locals have created hindrance in the investigation and say that they should cooperate.
When police took Santhosh to the crime spot, he is said to have shown the exact spot, said police sources.
The post-mortem report has been obtained but it is possible to give the details of the incident only after the report from forensic labs is out.
Many politicians visited Sowjanya’s house to express condolence to the family. Janardhan Poojary, former minister promised the family a compensation of Rs 1 lac on behalf of Gokarnanatheshwar Temple trust and many others promised monetary help to them.
Vinay Kumar Sorake, Ivan D’Souza, Rajashekar, Shailesh Kumar, Keshav Belalu, Sunitha, Nalin Kumar Kumar Kateel, Padmanab Kottary among others visited the family.