from daijiworld's special correspondent in Puttur (GA)
Pics Daya and Vishnu
- Memories of Soumya Bhat Murder Haunt Locals
Puttur, Jun 29: Is Akshata's murder case going in the way of Soumya Bhat murder that had rocked this town some nine years ago? Perhaps only time would answer this question.
The entire city had witnessed communal clashes after Soumya's death. Law and order had gone haywire following protest and violence. Some fundamental organizations which wait for such opportunities to stir up controversy were actually the cause for the entire mayhem. Since the accused Ashraf and victim Soumya were from two different communities, the entire matter had taken the shape of a communal clash.
Now once again Akshata's murder seems to be running on the same path. Just as in Soumya's case, here too the alleged murderer Sattar hails from Muslim community. He is still absconding. Though the circumstances indicate that he has murdered Akshata, there is no direct evidence. Unless he is arrested and proper evidence is gathered to prove his guilt, he cannot be termed the culprit.
The police have already arrested 3 persons in this regard. Sattar's father Abbas, his friends Ashraf, an autorickshaw driver and Jaggu alias Jagdish. Police are also trying to nab one Yogish who seems to be knowing more about the murder.
As reported earlier Akshata had gone missing on Saturday June 24 and was found murdered near the Ansaruddin yatim khana (orphanage) near here on Tuesday June 27 night. The partially decayed body suggested that she might have been murdered at least 2 days earlier.
Meanwhile Sattar, with whom she was in love for the last two years, too had gone missing from Saturday night. He had come home for dinner and thereafter he went missing. Based on this clue, Akshata's mother Yashodha had lodged a complaint with the town police on Sunday June 25 evening.
Jaggu alias Jagadish whom police have arrested has already spilt the beans that he and Sattar had gone to a temple in Madikeri last week to arrange for Sattar and Akshata's marriage. Sattar had agreed to become Hindu and the temple priest had agreed to officiate their marriage.
The locals said that Akshata had been in love with Sattar earlier. When Akshata's parents came to know about it, they had warned her. Along with them, some leaders of local organizations too had warned her. The then town police inspector Vishwanath Pandit had intervened and had tried to resolve the issue. After a few days, Akshata's father Krishna Purusha had died - this was about a year and a half ago - as a result of which she had to discontinue her studies and take up a job.
After this, Akshata is said to have kept Sattar away from her. But Sattar had been obsessed with her and he had been asking her to marry him. Recently Akshata had joined an NGO at Bolvar. There she used to get some calls from anonymous persons.
Jagadish has now revealed during the enquiry that those anonymous calls were made by him using Sattar's mobile. He had even called Akshata's employer and asked him to dismiss Akshata from job.
Amidst all this, Akshata went missing and was later found murdered. Some sources even say that Akshata, who never used to come home in the afternoon, had done so on Saturday. After lunch, she had changed her dress and gone out. If this is to be believed, then it is quite clear that she had planned either to go somewhere out in the evening or to elope.
But the truth will not be out until Sattar is found. The police found a pair of footwear, a vanity bag and a wallet belonging to Akshata near her body. The police had also found a pair of trousers and a shirt near a well which is just close to the Ansaruddin yatim khana. These clothes are believed to be of Sattar. Based on these the police, with the help of expert divers, had searched in the well on the assumption that Sattar had committed suicide. But they did not find anything except a wooden log in the well.
While two families and their relatives are going through a bad phase owing to different reasons, some of the local organizations have already cast a net to catch fish in the troubled waters.
Local Hindu organizations held a huge protest rally in the city on Thursday June 29 afternoon urging the police to take quick and stern action against the alleged accused Sattar. On the other hand, the police do not want to take anything for granted. Police security has been beefed up in the town. Additional police force has been summoned and senior police officials are in the town looking after law and order. They already have the example of Soumya Bhat murder case which had given way for week-long communal clash.