Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur
Kundapur, Oct 2: A day after the brutal rape and murder of a 19-year-old girl at Karikodlu, Goliangady under Shankaranarayana police limits, over 2,000 villagers gathered at Annapoorneshwari Sadashiva Siddhiviniyaka Temple premises here on Friday October 2 and held a protest meet.
Suchitra Naik (19), a resident of Karikodlu, was found raped and murdered in a wooded area of the village on the night of Thursday October 1. Her naked body was found in a sack. The accused Manikanta was caught by the locals and handed over to the police, and it is learnt that he later confessed to the crime.
Addressing the meet, managing trustee of Karuna Belaku Seva Trust Belve Vasanth Kumar Shetty said, "Young Suchitra's murderer should be punished severely and his family who is supporting him should be banished. The police department should deploy a special police beat for the protection of women in remote rural areas."
Udupi district Jaya Karnataka association president Janani Diwakar Shetty said, "Horrific incidents that used to happen in other places are now happening right in front of our eyes. At least now we need to wake up. If we continue to remain silent, such incidents will repeat in future, hence the culprit should be punished severely so that no one will dare to commit such an act in future."
Avarse gram panchayat president Chittaranjan Shetty said, "The fact that such a deplorable incident took place in our surroundings has sent shockwaves through the village. The people of Belve and Avarse villages strongly condemn the incident. The culprit should be hanged."
Goliangady traders' union president Gopal Bhat said that the police must provide protection to witnesses and ensure that the accused do not escape from law.
The villagers who gathered at the spot pooled in Rs 2.5 lac and handed it over to the victim's family.
Ganesh Arasammanakanu compered.
Over 2,000 people from Belve, Goliangady, Haikady, Albady, Shedimane, Vandar, Nadoor, Mandarthi, Kokkarne, Nanchar, Muddur, Belanje, Avarse, Hengavallu and Shiroor joined the protest. Members from organizations/associations like Udupi district Kudubi Samajoddharaka Sangha, Goliangady traders' union, Goliangady Vishwabrahmana Samajoddharaka Sangha, Brahmashri Narayana Guru Billava Seva Sangha, Belve, vehicle drivers' and owners' association, Goliangadyy, Prajna Yuvaka Mandala, Goliangady and others were present.
Business establishments and shops downed their shutters to support the protest meet.