Updated
Bangalore, Jul 21 (IANS): As a fallout of the alleged rape of a six-year-old student in a private school and other rape cases in the city, the Karnataka government Monday transferred Bangalore police commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar and Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Kamal Pant.
In a damage-control exercise, the government appointed Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) M.N. Reddi as the new police commissioner with immediate effect.
Auradkar faced public wrath over the handling of the rape cases, including that of a 22-year-old college student and a 17-year-old seminary student in the city in the last 10 days leading to angry protests and demonstrations.
The official order was issued on a day when the city witnessed a series of protests by hundreds of students, social activists and women's organisations against rising crimes against women and girls in Bangalore and across the state.
"Inspector General of Police (Grievances and Rights) Alok Kumar has been posted as the city's new additional commissioner of police (law and order)," the government said in a notification.
Auradkar was posted as additional director general of police of the Karnataka State Reserve Police.
Pant will take charge of the post Alok Kumar held.
Additional Director General of Police (Communications, Logistics and Modernization) H.C. Kishore Chandra has also been transferred to the post Reddi held - additional director general of police (law and order).
Taking charge of the new posting, Reddi told reporters that apart from traditional ways of policing, he would go on a major outreach programme to get information from the people and involve them for preventing crimes on women and to maintain law and order across the city.
Meanwhile, police Monday produced accused Musthafa alias Munna, the school's skating instructor who was arrested Sunday on the charge of sexually assaulting the minor, at a local court for a 14-day judicial remand.
"Though the court sent the 30-year-old accused to 14 days' judicial custody, we have moved an application in the same court seeking his custody for further interrogation and investigation in the case," Deputy Commissioner of Police (south-east) P.D. Pawar told IANS here.
Musthafa's parents, however, denied the involvement of their son in the crime and claimed he was innocent.
"We don't know anything about the incident. We can categorically say that our son is innocent and would not have committed such a crime," Murthaza and Rukhsana told reporters here.
Asserting that their son was a devout Muslim, performing namaz (prayers) five times a day and a family man with a wife and a five-year-old daughter, the parents said they were not aware of any of his activities in the school or outside.
"We don't know that his mobile and laptop had pornographic videos of children being raped. And if he has committed the crime, then he should be punished. But as their parents, we know that he cannot do such a thing (raping a minor in school)," Murthaza reiterated.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told lawmakers in the state assembly that the Goonda Act would be invoked against Musthafa, as he was allegedly involved in similar crimes in other schools where he was employed in the past.
"The Goonda Act would be amended soon and invoked on Musthafa for raping the girl in Vibgyor High School because he was also involved in such cases in previous schools where he was employed," Siddaramaiah said.
The state government also plans to increase the number of fast-track courts to expedite cases and give speedy justice to the victims and their relatives.
Goonda Act to be invoked against accused in child rape case
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said the Goonda Act would be invoked against the skating instructor, arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a six-year-old student at a public school, as he was involved in similar cases earlier.
"Goonda Act will be invoked on Mustafa for raping the girl in Vibgyor High School because he has been involved in such cases in previous schools where he was employed," Siddaramaiah said in the state Assembly.
31-year old Mustafa, hailing from Bihar, was arrested yesterday after eight persons, detained for questioning in connection with the incident, were interrogated.He said government has decided to amend the Goonda Act to include persons committing rape for the first time.
"We have sent the proposal to the Law Department and would introduce in the House as soon as possible," he added.
The government also plans to increase the number of fast-track courts to expedite cases and give speedy justice to the victim and their relatives, Siddaramaiah said.
On the demand made by YSV Datta (JDS), Home Minister K J George said the government has instructed the police to examine some steamy scenes in Bollywood film "Hate Story 2".
Raising the issue, Datta said films such as "Hate Story 2" emboldens criminals to indulge in sexual assaults.
"I request the Home Minister and the Chief Minister to examine some steamy scenes in the film, which emboldens criminals to commit sexual crimes."