Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jul 23: A case stands registered against the vice-president of Yedamoge gram panchayat in the taluk by the parents of a girl, who have alleged that he had tried to rape their daughter.

The vice-president, identified as Balachandra (36), has reportedly gone missing.

It is said that he offered to drop off a lady, who had visited a college to get her transfer certificate, at her home, and then tried to rape her during the journey.

Balachandra, a Congress supported member of Yedamoge gram panchayat, was travelling by his Maruti Omni vehicle, when he came across a lady from a rural area of the taluk, who was walking towards the bus stand to go back home. She had visited the town to collect her transfer certificate from a college, as she had completed her graduation from that institution recently.

Balachandra stopped his vehicle, introduced himself by uttering the name of a relative of the lady, and offered to drop her home. He then drove the vehicle through an unfamiliar route instead of directly going towards her home, taking advantage of heavy rain experienced in the region. He tried to kiss and and rape her, and provided to her his cell phone number, it is said. The lady, taken back by his behaviour, started to shout for help. At last, he drove the vehicle towards her home, and sped away after dropping her near her home.

The distressed lady reached her home and explained to family members what had happened. Her parents immediately approached the police and filed a complaint. As soon as he came to know that a case has been filed against him, Balachandra went missing, it is gathered.

Shankarnarayana police, who have taken up investigation, have begun operations to find the accused and arrest him.