Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Apr 14: Even after the police swung into action and arrested an accused who had attempted rape on a pregnant woman at Gopady near here on Saturday evening and crushed her to death with a stone, the relatives and members of the public continue to pour out their anger at the incident.
Victim Indira's house
Even as the 30-month-old son of the late Indira continued to demand to see his mother and younger sister, relatives of Indira and local residents have relentlessly been mobbing the police station since the last three days. The women, whose hearts went out to the inconsolable child's wails, laid siege to the police station here on Monday and demanded that the accused be handed over to them. They also wanted the police to provide a mother to the child to pacify him. Radha Das Kumbhashi, president of Mookambika Union of Women's Associations, led the protesting women.
Although the accused was arrested on Saturday night, the police had not been able to take him to the spot of crime and conduct inquest there as there was the risk of the irate mob that was lying in wait for him trying to lynch him. On Monday evening, the police took him to the spot. As a huge crowd that was waiting to teach a lesson to the culprit tried to attack the accused, the police rushed back with him, and produced him in the court. A few minutes thereafter, the court remanded the accused to 15 days judicial custody.
The relatives of the murdered woman and other women had started to gather in front of the court, on learning that the accused was being produced there. The police, who were apprehensive of the mob indulging in trouble and friction, led the accused to the district jail at Hiriadka through the backdoor of the court.
The house of Prashanth Mogaveera is enveloped in silence. His aunts, who eke out a living by working as agricultural labourers, feel let down and having lost their self respect because of the youth, who had earlier been involved with two cases of theft. His grandfather, who is bed-ridden, is shedding tears. The aunts had caught hold of Prashanth, who they brand as the evil spirit that seems to be hell bent to tarnish the image of their family, and handed him over to the police. The family members too are vehemently demanding the culprit to be hanged immediately. They also have pledged full support including legal help to the distressed family. The aunts, it is learnt, have not consumed any food since the last three days.
In the meanwhile, the police are keeping close watch on the situation. They plan to seek police custody of the accused within a week to conduct spot inspection in the company of the accused and complete this legally mandated formality.
It may be recalled that the people had expressed anguish at the fact that the residence of Indira had not been provided electricity supply on account of Coastal Regulatory Zone rules which prohibit it. As various fishermen's association came out strongly against this injustice, leading philanthropist from the district, Nadoja Dr G Shankar, has promised to provide power supply to this house within two days. The gram panchayat has since issued necessary permission for the same.
In the meanwhile, Radha Das said that about a thousand women will hold protest on Thursday morning under the banner of Mookambika Union of Women's Associations, demanding maximum punishment to the accused.