Mounesh Vishwakarma
Pics: Kishore Peraje
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Nov 1: The demand to handover to CBI the criminal case of SDM college student Sowjanya who was brutally raped and murdered nearly a year ago, has now echoed in Bantwal too.

The protestors led by the campaign committee for social justice assembled in front of Taluk office on B C Road and demanded that the case be handed over to the CBI. 

The police department’s enquiry has given rise to suspicion since the day of the crime and an attempt to shield the culprits is in progress.  As it appears that the COD officials conducting the investigation are being subjected to pressure and greed, it is necessary to hand over the investigation to the CBI for impartial enquiry, they said.

More than 500 unnatural deaths have occurred in Dharmastala during the last 35 years that have not been investigated properly.  This has created an atmosphere of fear and gloom in the area.  The administration should wake up and impart justice to the aggrieved Sowjanya family, they said.

Committee president Lokesh Shanti, Chief secretary Kanchalakshi, leaders of social organization including Prabhakar Daivagudde, Honnappa Kunder, Seetharam Berinja, Ravikala, B Shekar, Suresh, Chandappa Anchan, Krishna Allipade, Sridhar Ameen, Keshav Naik, Bhanuchandra Krishnapura and others addressed the protesters.  College student Ashwitha gave an emotional speech saying that the truth in Sowjanya case should come out if Sowjanya’s soul should find solace.           

Slogans were shouted against the police department and the government during the protest.  A petition was sent to the Governor through tahsildar Malleswamy after the protest.  Several social organizations and college students participated in the protest.