Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Jul 22: Thousands of students from colleges across the city on Tuesday July 22 gathered in front the deputy commissioner's office here and staged a protest against the recent crimes against women and children in the state and lambasted the government for not taking adequate action against the culprits.

The protests were led first by Tulunada Rakshana Vedike, and then by ABVP who joined them after a protest rally from Dr Ambedkar circle to DC's office.

Addressing the first protest, Ahalya, student from School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, said, "Hundreds of girls are getting raped but there is no stringent punishment for rapists. Cases of sexual assaults, molestation and rapes are repeating every day. The society should learn to respect woman and moral values should be taught in schools and colleges. Only through moral values can such crimes be prevented. The mentality of men towards women should change."

President of Tulunada Rakshana Vedike Yogish Shetty, Jeppu said, "We should understand the pain of women who become victims of sexual assaults. There were days when we used to say rapes happened only in states like Orissa, Bihar and Rajasthan due to lack of education. But today rapes arehappening in an educated state like Karnataka. Even children are not being spared. Dress code is not an issue. We need to change our perspective about women.

"Rapes have become a habitual occurence in society. Strict law should be enforced and stringent punishment should be meted out to culprits. It is the duty of people's representatives and of every citizen to do their best to curb crimes. Even we cannot lead the nation on this, we can at least show the way to our town or be examples in our own homes," he advised.

"The government should also hold awareness programmes. The entire system should change. Schools should also hold awareness programmes and regular parent-teachers meetings. Our struggle will continue till stringent action is taken against culprits," he added.

M G Hegde said, "Everyone is responsible for the gruesome rapes happening in the state, including the MLAs, the MPs, and even the corporates. What is the government doing? The district administration is not holdings meeting with the police or conducting awareness programmes on prevention of sexual crimes. Political parties should stop their drama and the BJP and the Congress should stop their blame game."

He further added, "After the gang-rape of a 22-year-old girl in Bangalore, though there was mass protest in Mangalore, but did the DC call any meeting? In our district there is a tendency to see the caste and religion of the rape victim and the offender. This should end. Though there have been several incidents of rape like Sowjanya case and others, the victims and their families are yet to get justice. Everything will be set right if the government gives free hand to the police. Every crime should be treated as a crime itself without giving any political or communal colours.

"Rapes have become like mass hysteria. If our MLAs or MPs do not respond, we should ourselves go and question them. Every problem has a solution if only we struggle for justice till its done. It is the duty and responsibility of every citizen and people's representative," he said.

Dinakar Shetty of All College Students' Union said, "We do not want Tulunadu to become crime district. Though Akshata was brtally murdered, the accused has not been identified yet. We still do not know the status of CBI probe in Sownjaya case. Every second a woman is getting molested. Whoever commits rape should get death sentence."

During the ABVP protest, Ashwini of University College said, "Rape cases are repeating and every day women are facing sexual assaults. There is no adequate protection for women. When the issue of sexual crimes was discussed in the Assembly, the chief minister was caught sleeping. Even the women and child welfare committee is silent. ABVP demands stringent punishment for culprits. Till the victims get justice our struggle will not end."

Ramesh, state secretary of ABVP said, "From the past several years rapes have been increasing in state. There is no protection for women and students. The state government is providing bad administration. After the Bangalore rape case, ABVP protested but the government tried to curb our protest with lathi charge. But we will not stop our agitation till we get justice.

"Even the district has witnessed many rape cases. The government should frame appropriate laws and stringently punish the culprits. Instead, it is playing political drama. ABVP condemns this. Though we have conducted many workshops and seminars to show direction to the government, our suggestions have not been implemented. Instead they are using lathi charge against us," he lamented.

Shivakumar said, "Parents fear to send their children to schools and colleges. From past two years 12,000 rapes cases have been reported. The government should feel ashamed about this. Though rape cases are repeating, the government has failed to take a firm stand. The government should at least wake up now."

Shyam Bhat, Akshata, Rakshita, Yathish, Anushka and others also spoke on similar lines.

Around 3,000 students took part in the protest. The ABVP submitted a memorandum to the DC on the occasion.

Udupi

Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Jul 22: Frustrated by the increasing number of rapes in the state, thousands of students staged a protest in the city on Tuesday July 22 near the clock tower here.

Nagaveni, a student said, "We do not enjoy freedom and equality in this male-dominated country. The corrupt government has surrendered to the rich people and the politicians are their puppets. Any official work can be done only by bribing them."

"Police department should punish the culprits without delay. Government should wake up and the court should provide justice to the victim’s family," said Shivanand Nayak, an ABVP member.

Students were unanimous in their demand for justice. They also said that they had waited enough for the police to act.

The students also demanded ban on drugs in colleges and called for a separate law to punish the culprits.

The students shouted slogans demanding a complete stop to cases of harassment and also urged the government to provided adequate security to women.

Abhishek, a student, said that night clubs should be shut down.

Poornaprajna College, St Lawrence, Mudubelle, SMSP Kaup, MPMC Manipal, Girls College Udupi, G Shankar Women's First Grade College Udupi, Board High school, Vidyodaya, Udupi, MGM Udupi and other colleges took part in the protest.