Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, Sep 19: In an incident which reportedly happened at Gokak in the district on Sunday September 16, a six-year-old girl was reportedly raped by a youth. He had succeeded in luring the girl by offering some toffees, it is learnt. The incident however was made public with delay.

Members of the public came together in front of the town police station at Gokak, duly charging a youth named Basavaraj Laxman Bhosale (25) of having committed this crime, and seeking his arrest. During this protest there was verbal friction between the crowd and the police personnel. Taking advantage of volatile situation, some miscreants indulged in vandalism.

The police have arrested the accused and registered case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The girl was sent to the district government hospital in the city for medical tests. Situation in Gokak however has remained sensitive.

Relating to the incident, people resorted to stone pelting at several places including Baji Market, bus stand, Byali Kata etc. 11 KSRTC buses and private vehicles were stoned and damaged. Over ten window glasses of the bus stand office were shattered. Buses stopped moving about since 4 pm on Monday. KSRTC manager said that the corporation lost over five lac rupees in terms of revenue and three lac rupees due to stone pelting. As a gang went about forcing shops to close down, shops and other establishments voluntarily downed their shutters by evening. The police had hard time convincing the protesters and restore normalcy in Gokak town.

Senior police officers visited the spot and conducted inspection and scrutiny.