News and pics: Stephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)

Kasargod, Oct 23: Parents of a sixteen year old speech impaired rape victim from Uppala have urged the suspension of SI Pramod who they allege is protecting the rape suspect and to impart justice to the affected child.

Speaking at a news conference held at Kasargod, they said that the police is looking for an excuse to protect the accused even though there is a lot of evidence to prove the crime. “The police has acted in a
high handed way by placing us in the position of the accused at the time of lodging the complaint. Action must be taken against the inspector who argued in favor of the accused.”

“The child was raped five times between September 5 and September 22. The incident came to light only after the girl expressed it to the teacher Dayavathi, a relative of the girl. The father is mentally
ill and the mother and three children are dumb. The incident occurred when the house members were away. The girl was earlier scared to bring the incident to light. However she informed Dayavathi on October 22. The teacher and other relatives approached Manjeshwar police station with the girl to lodge a complaint but the police was arrogant and refused to accept the complaint even after giving it in writing. They later took the statement from Dayavathi and the girl and sent them home. Though the matter was brought to the notice of Kumble Circle inspector the next day, it was not taken seriously.

Manjeshwar station police tried to cover up the truth and close the case. They tried to portray the incident as defamation instead of rape and tried to protect the accused,” they said.

“The police said that they will arrest the accused if he is identified. As the suspect was not arrested even after 20 days, a complaint was lodged with the district SP and it was transferred to the crime
detection squad. The squad succeeded in arresting the suspect within the next three days. Action must now be taken against those who tried to protect the accused. The accused should be severely punished. Justice must be imparted to the family of the victim,” they urged. “No action has been taken even after a week of the SP submitting the report to the DIG regarding the lapse in duty by the Manjeshwar SI. It is
unfortunate that Women's Commission and Children Welfare Department are quiet about it,” they said.

Relatives of the girl, S Dayavathi, S Amitha, Sunil Kumar, Shambhavi, social activist advocate K Srikanth and others were at the news conference.