Third accused in Manipal rape case arrested at Parkala
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Update: 7.30 pm
Udupi, Jun 27: As per the latest reports, the third accused in the Manipal gang-rape case, identified as Anand, has been arrested at Badagabettu, Parkala.
A police source said that the arrest was made late evening on Thursday June 27.
Like the other accused, he too attempted suicide, it is learnt.
Anand
Earlier, reports were rife that the accused had fled to Goa, but police received information that he was at Parkala. Also, police received a call from a local stating that someone was trying to hang himself in the woods. A search operation began, and he was found to be hanging by a tree. However, he was still alive.
The police rushed him to KMC hospital in Manipal where he is said to be recuperating.
Sources said that Anand was known to the victim through his wife.
Anand was supposed to go to Goa on work, and hence, it was assumed that he had escaped. It was later learnt that he had sent someone else in his place, while he himself stayed home.
"Passersby found Anand trying to attempt suicide by hanging. An unidentified person called us from the spot and informed that someone was trying to hang himself and was rescued by bringing him down from the tree branch," said IGP (western range) Pratap Reddy, confirming the arrest.
Earlier Update
Udupi: Arrested man confessed to IGP on phone before consuming poison
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SM)
Udupi, Jun 27: Addressing a press meet here on Thursday June 27, IGP (western range) Pratap Reddy confirmed that while two persons have been arrested in the Manipal rape case, the third person, whom he did not name, is still at large.
The IGP said that the police have so far arrested Yogish and Hariprasad Poojary (Harish), aged 30 and 27, in the case.
Hariprasad
Yogish
"There was a lot of public and media pressure on the police, but now that we have arrested two of the accused, the media's work ends here and police work begins in earnest. We will work hard to give justice to the victim. There are a lot of legal procedures and we need to verify the crime spot as well as bring the accused before the victim for identification. But at the end, we assure that we will do everything possible to ensure that the victim gets justice," he said.
He also confirmed that all three accused are auto rickshaw drivers. Among them, Yogish is a rowdysheeter while Hariprasad was earlier arrested in a gambling case.
On how the arrests came about, the IGP said, "At around 10 am on Thursday June 27, Yogish called me and said, 'I have committed a mistake, and I am responsible for what has happened. I know you are going to catch me soon, but I will not let you do that'. I heard him groan because of the poison he had consumed. Through mobile tracker, we located his house, and rushed him to hospital."
Yogish, an auto and taxi driver by profession, is now stable and recuperating in Manipal hospital.
About Harisprasad, the police already had some prior information as he was listed in police records, and based on Yogish's statement, they were able to arrest him.
Both the accused are unmarried, and all three are known to each other.
About the crime spot he said, "We are almost cent percent sure about it, but the place intially thought to be the crime spot is not the actual one. It is a different spot." As per reports, the crime spot as revealed by Hariprasad is Madaga. Earlier, some media reports had claimed that the spot was Eshwarnagar.
He thanked the police departments of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada and Chikmagalur for their assistance in the case.
The auto rickshaw used in the crime has been checked, but it was found that there were no marks or scratches on it and its condition was as any other auto. "Also, contrary to suspicions that a Ganesha idol was in the auto, we have found that there was no such idol, instead there was a small idol of Radha-Krishna," he said.
About the prize money, he said the police cannot reveal the name of the person who gave vital information due to security reasons, but if the person himself has apprached the media, the police cannot do anything.
He assured that the third person who is still absconding will be caught very soon and the arrest will be announced in the media. He requested media persons to maintain restraint while reporting on the case so that the investigation is not hampered.
Udupi SP Dr Boralingaiah and Mangalore SP Abhishek Goyal were present.
Earlier Update
Udupi, Jun 27: It has come to light that Sukesh Kunder, who had contested the municipal elections from Herga on Congress ticket and lost, helped the police in catching the accused.
It is said that all rowdy sheeters had been called to Manipal police station for interrogation, but Yogish had not come. This came to the notice of Sukesh, who informed the police accordingly.
Sukesh also met Yogish personally and asked him why he did not visit the station, and learnt that he was one of the three involved in the crime. Sukesh then asked to surrender, but Yogish repeatedly put off appearing before the police, and ultimately consumed poison. He was then admitted to hospital.
The police are expected to take the accused to the crime spot at Madaga for verfication. The spot will also be checked for further clues.
It is learnt that it was Yogish who brought the girl back to the flat after committing the crime.
Meanwhile, former vice-president of Udupi CMC Ronald Pravin Kumar has announced a reward of Rs 1 lac for the police, which will be handed over to the SP during a programme on June 30, where Oscar Ferndandes will be the guest.
Update: 1.20 pm
Udupi: Accused arrested in Manipal rape case confesses - Sources
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SM)
Udupi, Jun 27: As per reliable sources, among the two arrested, Harish who has been taken to a spot under Hiriadka police station limits has reportedly confessed to the crime.
Sources told daijiworld that during interrogation, Harish said that on the night of the crime, all three of them were inebriated, and the gang-rape was not planned but was done in a drunken stupor.
Harish reportedly said that he was driving the auto rickshaw, and that the main person involved was Yogish who forced the girl first. Harish also claimed that he did not sexually assault her though he was present.
He also said that the spot of the crime was Madaga in Hiriadka.
It is said that before the arrest, Hiriadka police ASI had visited Yogish's house for questioning, but did not find him home. Yogish later got a call from Manipal police. Scared that he had been found out, Yogish attempted suicide, it is learnt.
The auto rickshaw was found at Harish's house. He said he had not taken it out ever since the police began their hunt.
Meanwhile, the police are on hot pursuit of the third accused, Anand, who is reportedly escaping towards Goa. Sources said that the police have been chasing his vehicle and may arrest him soon.
Earlier Report
Udupi: Breakthrough at last - Two arrested in Manipal gang-rape case
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Jun 27: In the first major breakthrough in the Manipal gang-rape case, the police on Thursday June 27 arrested two persons.
The arrested are said to be identified as Yogish and Harish, while another accused, Anand, is reportedly absconding in Goa.
Reports have come in that when the police arrested him, Yogish tried to commit suicide by consuming poison. He has been admitted in Manipal hospital, it is learnt. IGP (western range) Pratap Reddy and Udupi SP Dr Boralingaiah have gone to the hospital to speak to him.
Sources said that one of the accused, Anand, has been absconding in Goa and a police team is on its way to nab him. It is also said that he is known to the victim through his wife.
All three are auto rickshaw drivers, but Anand had recently taken up the job of bus conductor and was working as auto driver part time.
While Anand and Harish are from Parkala, Yogish is from Hiriadka, it is learnt.
The auto rickshaw used in the crime has also been seized by the police, sources said.
Meanwhile in Bangalore, chief minister Siddaramaiah asserted that the police department has been doing everything within its command to apprehend and prosecute those involved in the recent rape of a medical student in Manipal.
Replying to various queries and giving explanations on other issues like operation at Uttarakhand to evacuate people from the state stranded there, and permission granted for FDI in retail in the state among others, Siddaramaiah said additional measures like police reinforcement in Manipal, and fixing of closed circuit television cameras at strategic points in Manipal University campus, have been undertaken to ensure that incidents like the above do not recur in future.
The arrest comes a week after a student of Manipal University was allegedly gang-raped last Thursday by three men after being abducted in an autorickshaw. Ever since, the police have been hunting down the accused. The sketch of one of the accused was released two days ago. The girl, meanwhile, has been recuperating in Manipal hospital.
More details are awaited.