Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Aug 30: A large-scale protest gathering took place near the Udupi Ajjarkad Martyr's Memorial, organized by the Udupi District Sowjanya Struggle Committee, to demand the identification and stringent punishment of the actual culprits in the court rape and murder case of Sowjanya.

Before the assembly, demonstrators visited the Ananteshwar and Krishna Math in Udupi to offer prayers and then marched from Krishna Mutt to Ajjarakadu.

Addressing the gathering, pro-Sowjanya activist Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi declared, "Our fight has extended over the past 11 years. If our protest is considered a stain, we will not remain passive. We are engaged in a silent form of resistance. If this trend persists, we will escalate our struggle. We will amass protests of unprecedented scale at Dharmasthala. I wish to caution the chief minister, home minister, and prime minister. Why safeguard the accused? Do you leave mothers to us? We also have maternal relationships. Do you comprehend the stature of Goddess Durga? There are Durgas who fight not for profit, but for truth, faith, and justice. Speaking is not mere words for us. Our tax money funds investigations. A staggering Rs 80 crores have been expended on probing this case. Is the populace's tax value insignificant? Reflect on the present status of the chief minister and home minister—when Sowjanya's demise occurred, they chose to close the Sowjanya case.

“Even Shobha Karandlaje, the local MP, was at Dharmasthala that day, yet she neglected to visit Sowjanya's bereaved family. Shobha Karandlaje lacks an understanding of parenthood, and thus, she fails to grasp the anguish of Sowjanya's mother. We are rooted in our faith. Despite the family's court complaint, no action was taken against the accused. At present, we can only voice the truth verbally, as there is no written record; it was consumed and obliterated by the then police. Our nation's judicial framework demands rectification. This struggle will persist for the upcoming two to three months. The individual accused by Sowjanya's mother must face appropriate consequences,” he said.

Sowjanya's mother Kusumavati, spiritual thinker Thammanna Shetty, and numerous pilgrims joined the event.

Simultaneously, police ousted supporters from the Dharmasthala constituency who had gathered for the demonstration, while security was beefed up at the site.