Manipal rape: Culprits will be given strictest punishment - K J George
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SM)
Udupi, Jun 23: Home minister K J George on Sunday June 23 condemned the gang-rape of a medical student at Manipal University and said that strict action will be taken against the culprits.
Addressing a press meet during his visit to the district to take stock of the situation, George said, "This incident is shocking and highly condemnable. Such a thing should not happen in society. Strict action will be taken against anyone who indulges in any anti-social activity."
"The chief minister has already spoken on the matter. I have also convened a meeting with the SP, DIG, IGP and other higher officials. The investigation is going on and full freedom has been given to the police to catch the culprits at the earliest.
He said that he met the victim and also spoke to her family to give them moral support. "I wanted to give her (victim) and her family moral support and I have told them that the district and the government is with them."
He said that he has also met Dr Ramdas Pai, MD of Manipal University, the dean and other members of the University management and held discussions with them.
"Police have been instructed to conduct a transparent probe into the incident. Whoever be the culprits, no concession will made and they will be given the strictest punishment," he promised.
"Once the accused are caught, the case will be tried in the fast track court so that justice is done in the quickest time possible. We will see to it that the culprits get the maximum punishment," he added.
"We have also alerted our counterparts in Mangalore and other towns in the neighbouring districts to look out for an old auto involved in the crime, as its light was damaged and had a small god's idol in it, as hinted by the victim," the police officer said.
He also stressed that nobody should point fingers at the victim as she is innocent in the entire incident. "The girl is innocent and no one should hold her responsible for what has happened. It is fault of anti-social elements who should be rooted out."
Asked to comment on the increasing number of crimes in the coastal region, he said, "I agree that crimes are increasing. Once this case is solved, we will enhance security here and depute more policemen."
He also pointed out that some of the private establishments have been unwilling to cooperate by refusing to install CCTVs and security personnel in their premises.
He rubbished claims that Manipal police have not been given full freedom to investigate and said, "Earlier the Manipal police was not given freedom, but now after the Congress government came to power, enough freedom has been given to the police as per regulations."
SP Dr Boralingaiah said that out of the eight teams that have been formed to investigate the case, three teams have been deployed to check on all the auto rickshaws in the district. "Out of the 10,000 auto rickshaws, already 3,000 have been checked so far. A meeting has also been convened with the auto drivers' union and they have been instructed to cooperate fully," he said.
He reiterated that no one has been arrested yet, but that some people have been taken for interrogation. Police sources said that four people are being questioned on the basis of calls made to a few students.
On the CCTV footage, he said as the lights were dim and such other issues, the footage is not clear. "Right now the focus is not on improving CCTVs but on catching the accused. We will take up this issue later. We have also asked the government to deploy more policemen as there is a shortage here, and the CM has said that it will be done in the course of the next two-three years," he said.
IGP Pratap Reddy who was also present said that though two security men had been present at the University at the time of the incident, the information obtained from them has been minimum.
MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, district incharge minister Vinaykumar Sorake and ADGP (crime and law) Vipin Gopalkrishna were present.
Speaking on the sidelines, Sorake said, "The incident is definitely condemnable. We are coordinating with the police and I am confident that the case will be solved soon."
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