from our special correspondent reporting from Manipal (MB) - Monday, 12-30 pm
Manipal, Mar 13: After the public and a few organizations laid a siege on the police station here on Sunday, talks were held by Udupi district superintendent of police S Murugan with MLA K Raghupati Bhat and others.
The police chief is understood to have agreed to take action against the erring staff who let go of the culprits involved in the attempted rape of a 15-year-old school-going girl.
The public were angry because a group of youngsters had swung into action as soon as the news of the kidnap spread around on Saturday and followed the car that was used in the crime. All their efforts were nullified with the police in Manipal registering a petty case against the four of them - one is yet to be apprehended - and releasing them so swiftly.
The case got a new twist with politicians getting into the picture. Zilla panchayat members Jerald Fernandes and Gladys Almeida, taluk panchayat member Veronica Cornelio, municipal vice chairman Kiran Kumar and leaders belonging to various Hindu organizations gathered in front of the police station and protested against the police action of hurriedly releasing the culprits.
The agitators demanded that
- Head constable Jayasheela who recorded the case be suspended
- Assistant police inspector Moosa who has settled down in the same station for a long time be transferred
- Departmental action be taken against circle inspector who in his absence did not give proper guidance to his subordinates in dealing with the case
Incidentally the station house officer and sub inspector Renukaradhya is currently on leave.
Road blockade was effected on the main road for a while as part of the protest.
MLA Raghupati Bhat informed the media that in view of SP's assurance of action demanded by the agitators, the agitation has been withdrawn. The head constable concerned is reported to have been suspended.
The sections which were applied in the case earlier have now been revised and fresh charges being filed against the culprits. Their arrests will be affected as soon as possible, said the police sources.
Background
The victim of the case, a girl student of a high school in Udupi, came to city bus stand after the half-day school on Saturday, March 11 and was waiting for a bus towards Paniyadi.
The Maruti car belonging to Sandeep Shetty arrived on the spot. Zaheer, a friend of her cousin, who had introduced the former to him some time ago, offered to give her a lift. She got into the car in good faith, since he was her cousin's good friend.
Other accused joined them on the way. When she realized that they were not stopping the car at the MGM College bus stop, where she was to go her aunt's house where she stayed, but taking it ahead towards Manipal, she protested. They offered her a soft drink which she refused. When the car reached the End Point area, they started physically molesting her and she gave screams.
In the meantime members of Barjang Dal and other organization got scent of the kidnap attempt and followed the car and intercepted them at End Point and managed to nab the three culprits, while the fourth, Zaheer, escaped.
A Bajrang Dal activist told this correspondent that but for their timely action, the girl could have been a victim of gang-rape and possibly even murder thereafter in an effort to suppress the evidence.
He also said in spite of the urgency of the situation, the police arrived on the scene only half an hour after the news was conveyed on the phone.
Gladys Almeida speaks to Daijiworld
ZP member from Shirva Gladys Almeida, when contacted by Daijiworld, said that it was wrong information given in the media that the girl's father was not alive and mother was working abroad. Both are at home, she said. With the help of some organizations, including the Catholic Sabha, the parents will be submitting a memorandum to SP Murugan on Monday (March 13) seeking justice in the matter.
BJP leader Jerald Fernandes from Moodubelle, also speaking to Daijiworld, said the agitators had decided to give the police a day's time to take action and then would decide on the course of further action.
Read our earlier reports: