Daijiworld Media Network – Bellary (SP)

Bellary, May 17: In an incident that has come out after a delay of a few weeks, a woman was raped by several persons, before damaging her genitals and barbarically killing her. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday May 16, Honnuruswamy, son of the murdered woman, Maremma, as well as office bearers of the local Mahila Sangha, gave an account of what had happened to the victim.

Maremma was an agricultural labourer of Muddapur village near Kampli in Hospet taluk of the district. She was living with her children, but after the death of her husband a few years ago, had become addicted to liquor. An auto rickshaw driver named Basappa took her home on April 29 afternoon. Maremma’s children went in search of their mother, as she did not return till night. After being informed that she had accompanied Basappa, they went there and found that Maremma had been killed. They said that a complaint had been filed with Kampli police station, saying that the woman was enticed by offering liquor, and then raped before killing her.

Honnuruswamy and Mahila Sangha office bearers alleged at the press conference that the policemen, instead of taking action against the murderers, misbehaved with them and forcibly got their signatures on white sheets, in connivance with some local politicians. They also said that the policemen have arrested rickshaw driver, Basappa, to hoodwink the process of law, knowing fully well that Basappa is too weak to either rape Maremma or murder her. In a complaint to the district deputy commissioner, they said that the contents of the first information report largely differ with what had actually transpired, and sought justice.