Daijiworld Media Network - Davanagere

Davanagere, Apr 4: In a deeply disturbing incident, a woman was allegedly gang-raped in front of her two young sons by a bus driver, conductor, and helper in Karnataka’s Davanagere district. The horrifying crime occurred near Channapura village, and has sparked public outrage, especially over allegations of police inaction and attempted cover-up.

According to sources, the victim, a resident of Vijayanagar district, was returning from the revered Ucchangidurga temple fair on March 31 along with her children. She boarded the last bus heading towards Davanagere city. Once all other passengers had alighted, the bus staff diverted the vehicle to a secluded location, gagged the children, and brutally assaulted the woman.

Local farmers and passers-by who witnessed the incident raised an alarm and managed to rescue the victim. The accused – driver Prakash Madivalara, conductor Suresh, and helper Rajashekar – were handed over to Arasikere police. Shockingly, one of the accused has multiple criminal cases registered against him.

What followed has caused further outrage. It is alleged that the Arasikere police initially refused to register a case, took the woman’s signature on blank paper, and gave her Rs 2,000 to buy new clothes, asking her not to pursue the matter. The victim and her children were dropped back at the temple, where they spent the night.

Only after local Dalit leaders noticed the woman’s plight and contacted Vijayanagar SP Shrihari Babu B L did the case see action. The SP personally intervened, recorded the victim’s statement, and ensured that the accused were arrested once again.

The incident has raised serious concerns about police conduct and the safety of women in the region. Human rights activists and political leaders have condemned the attempt to suppress the crime and are demanding a thorough investigation into both the assault and the alleged police cover-up.

In a separate but equally tragic case, a young migrant labourer from Bihar was kidnapped and raped near a railway station in Bengaluru while she was searching for food along with her brother early Thursday morning. Investigations are underway in both cases.