Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Mar 13: Relating to the alleged rape of a teenaged student at Bailumane in Aittoor village, the police succeeded in arresting the other accused on Wednesday March 12.  Out of the two alleged rapists named by the girl, Purushottam Naik, employed in a bar and restaurant at Nettana, was arrested by the policemen on Sunday. Dhruva from Moojoor, who had remained elusive, was taken into custody on Wednesday.

It now transpires that the accused had provided a cell phone and sim card to the girl, and that her father had objected to this. The girl had gone missing thereafter. After the father launched a search for her with the help of his relatives, she was found at the home of Dhruva at night. It is said that after some political leaders interfered, the case was settled with mutual consent at the police station. The leaders of another party, sensing this, complained to the local MLA and state women’s commission, after which the police were  compelled to register the case and arrest the accused.

Congress leader, Sudhir Kumar Shetty, speaking on Wednesday at Kadaba, said that the policemen had let the accused persons go scot free, and charged BJP leaders of helping the culprits. He warned of severe protests if justice is not done to the girl.

President of BJP Shakti Kendra at Kadaba, Satish Nayak, speaking on Wednesday, said that the case has been given the color of hate politics. He accused Congress leaders of nursing a grouse against Purushottam Naik for registering a complaint against them for vandalizing the bar and restaurant in which he is working sometime back, and of trying to settle scores by pressurizing the girl to pursue the complaint, although the case had been settled through mutual consent.