Manipal gang-rape: Police release CCTV footage, announce Rs 2 lac reward
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SM)
Udupi, Jun 25: A day after releasing the sketch of one of the accused in the Manipal gang-rape case, IGP (western range) Pratap Reddy on Tuesday June 25 released the CCTV footage to the media and announced a reward of Rs 2 lac to anyone who can give concrete information about the accused.
The footage shows the Manipal University entrance where the girl was kidnapped and the road near Valley View through which the three accused men's auto rickshaw passed.
Addressing a press meet, the IGP said that since Monday June 24, the police have interrogated 30 persons, and the total number of people questioned in the case so far stands at 47.
"We have got good response from people in Karnataka and even Kerala to the sketch of the accused released on Monday. So far, we found six or seven people who resemble the sketch, but on inquiry we found that they were not the one we are looking for," he said.
"Anyone who can give us correct and concrete information about the accused will be rewarded with Rs 2 lac prize money," he announced, adding that it was being given by the police deparment in the interest of speeding up the investigation.
Of the 10,000 auto rickshaws in the district, the police have checked 7,000, and the remaining 3,000 will be checked in the next two days, he said. It is not only the autos in Udupi and Manipal that the police are checking but also those in the surrounding regions. He added that apart from auto drivers, rowdy sheeters and other persons under suspicion were also scanned.
Based on the CCTV footage, the police have identified the make and model of the auto rickshaw used, he said. Sources told daijiworld that it was not a TVS King auto as earlier suspected, but a Bajaj one.
While expressing satisfaction over the cooperation extended by the auto drivers' union, the IGP also appealed to the public and everyone connected to the investigation to cooperate.
"To speed up the investigation, we have also involved the regional transport office (RTO) and sought its cooperation," he added.
He futher said that the biggest issue hampering the progress of investigation is the reluctance on the part of the victim to meet the police and give information about her persecutors. "The girl is reluctant to meet the police and tell us what exactly took place. This is the biggest problem we are facing," he said.
Asked why the girl was reluctant to talk and whether it pointed at the failure of police, he said, "We do not want to force or harass the victim in any way. When she is ready and comfortable enough to speak, we will get the required information from her."
Udupi SP Dr Boralingaiah and Mangalore SP Abhishek Goyal were present.
Auto drivers' union protests
Meanwhile in Manipal, the auto drivers' union took out a procession from Tiger Circle to the police station, urging the police not to harass them in the case.
"We extend our full cooperation to the police in investigating the case. We are sure that no auto driver from Manipal is involved in this," said Raghavendra and Suresh who led the protest.
"However, in the name of investigation, the police should not harass us by coming to our houses at odd hours in the night and taking us for interrogation. Every night police have been taking in three auto drivers for questioning. This is not the way. If they want to question us, they can just call and we will come willingly, but only during the day," they said.
Responding to their demand, Manipal police inspector Sadananda Tippannanavar said, "It is not possible to stop the process of interrogation. If you do not want it, then show us the culprit and we will stop interrogating. Till then we have to do our duty. We cannot stop just because you protest. The investigation will go on."
"We are not harassing anyone. We have not hit a single person taken for interrogation till now," he clarfied.
Members and leaders of auto drivers' union were present.
Anyone who can identify or give any information about the accused is requested to contact the police on these numbers:
Sadananda Tippannanavar, Manipal police inspector - 9480805448
Udupi Special Cell - 9742512100
0820 - 2521257
Email: spudp@ksp.gov.in