Sowjanya Case - Arrested Man Mentally Ill, No Evidence to Implicate
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady
Update
Beltangady, Oct 12: The police seem to have hit a dead end with regard to a suspect in the rape and murder case of Sowjanya, the 17-year-old student of SDM College, as the person who was arrested earlier has turned out be mentally ill and has no evidence against him.
The police on Thursday October 11 had arrested Santhosh Bajagoli, a resident of Bajagoli in Karkala in connection with the case. It is now said that it is the locals who spotted him sitting alone at Gommata Betta and caught hold of him without any proof, and informed the police. They later demanded that the man be handed over to them.
Police sources said that as he was mentally ill, he admitted to raping the girl, but his statement could not be verified or taken as evidence. The police also took the help of Santhosh's doctor and his father to further establish his innocence.
Speaking to reporters, IGP Pratap Reddy said that Santhosh will be taken to Mangalore for treatment.
He also said that post-mortem reports have stated that at least three to four people were involved in the rape and murder of Sowjanya, and hence Santhosh could not have committed the crime on his own.
Protests
Beltangady saw a series of protests urging the police to take quick action in catching the actual culprits in Sowjanya case.
The students of SDM College, Ujire, of which Sowjanya was a student, held a silent protest, while the residents of Dharmasthala demanded legal action. Various unions of Nada village also descended on the streets.
Organizations like DYFI, SFI, CPI (M), Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane, and others also protested. Mahila Mandali, Bajrang Dal, and Jayakarnataka students' cell submitted appeals to the SP demanding justice.
Earlier Update
Sowjanya Murder - One Arrested, Locals Demand Police to Hand him over
Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (VM)
Beltangady, Oct 12: Police on Thursday October 11 arrested a man near Dharmasthala in connection with the rape and murder of young Sowjanya, who was found dead near Pangala two days ago.
The arrested has been identified as Santhosh Bajagoli, a resident of Bajagoli in Karkala. Sources said that he reportedly admitted to having raped Sowjanya but denied killing her.
The locals, who are fuming over the incident, stopped the jeep and asked the police to hand over the accused to the public.
Sources said that the locals also pelted stones on the police jeep. However, the police somehow managed to escape from the hands of the public.
They then took the accused to Beltangady police station where he was interrogated.
Thousands of locals gathered in front of the police station asking the cops to hand over the detainee to the public. Initially the police had to resort to lathi charge to control the angered mob.
During the lathi charge, one among the crowd is said to be injured. He was later admitted to a nearby government hospital.
It is learnt that KSRP force has been deployed in the city as a precautionary measure.
Following the arrest, protests that were scheduled to be held on Friday October 12 have been cancelled.