Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)

Updated

Mangaluru, Apr 5: Social activist Lolaksha on Wednesday April 5 decried the slow pace of investigation into an alleged gang-rape that took place under Dharmasthala police limits, in which a minor girl was allegedly raped by five men and impregnated.

Addressing a press meet here, social activist Lolaksha said, "The incident of gang-rape under Dharmasthala police station came to light a few days back. The police department has not yet started proper investigation and immediate relief has not been given to the victim.

"As per the FIR, Sandeep of Adikalanja, Guruprasad, Vijay and Karunakar are the accused persons. But there is evidence of some influential people being involved in this heinous crime. The slow pace of investigation shows that the police department is under pressure from these prominent people.

"The victim is from the Dalit community, but those who are supposed to look into Dalit issues are also silent on this case. Tomorrow (Thursday April 6) we will submit a memorandum for speedy investigation into this incident to the district administration and the district police superintendent," Lolaksha said.

Blaming the local administration and the child welfare committee for showing negligence in the rehabilitation of the minor girl, he said, "The minor girl who is studying in first PUC was continually gang-raped from April to December 2016. She then got pregnant and with the help of local social activists, was admitted to a hospital in Mangaluru. The sexual attack has scarred her mentally and she does not have the stregnth to face the rigours of investigation.

"The accused have strong hold in politics and the local administration. They are trying to close this case with the help of some government authorities. On Tuesday April 4, we met deputy superintendent of police Ravish and demanded that POSCO charges be slapped on the accused. We also demanded the arrest of another 20 prominent people who are involved in the crime. We are taking this issue seriously and if needed, we are ready to ask help from the judiciary," he said.

Renny D'Souza, secretary of Shikshana Rakshana Vedike said, "The mother of the victim who is suffering from mental illness is staying in an ashram. The victim's father died last year, and since then, she has been living with her two sisters at home. The child welfare committee and the backward community associations have not come forward to protect this family."

Social activist Shridhar Rao was present.

"Did not criticise police"

In a statement to daijiworld on April 6, Lolaksha clarified that he did not hold the cops responsible for the slow pace of investigation. "In fact, while addressing the press in Mangaluru, we have appreciated the efforts made by the police investigation team headed by Raveesh, DySP, Bantwal sub-division. We are informed that B G Borase, SP of DK, himself has taken keen interest and doing everything possible, as per law, to get justice to this destitute girl child who fell victim because of failure of 'state' and civil society. We have demanded the SP to constitute special teams of police to bring the rapists, some of them stated to be influential, who are absconding, to justice at the earliest.

"If the local gram panchayat-level committee meant for 'care and protection of children' could have taken cognisance of the acute vulnerability of this girl child, when her father died last year and she became a lonely child at home (her mother is mentally ill and away in an Ashram and her school going younger sister at a far away hostel and her elder sister away in Mangaluru, working as sales girl) and taken necessary steps as per the provisions of law (JJ Act, 2015 and POCSO Act, 2012) for her care and protection and rehabilitation, she would not have become a victim of this magnitude. Hence we have demanded the local authorities, who have neglected their duties, should be brought to book as per Sec 34 of JJ Act, 2015.

"We also condemn the insensitive attitude of DC, DK and deputy director, SWD, DK. The deputy commissioner, being district magistrate, is the chairman of the vigilance and monitoring committee on atrocities against SCs and STs and he is duty bound to take care of the victim and provide her compensation as per SC/ST(POA)(amended) Rules, 2016. He has not performed his duties, which itself a criminal offence," Lolaksha said.