Mysuru rape: 5 arrested in TN by K’taka cops

Mysuru rape: 5 arrested in TN by K’taka cops

Mysuru:29.08.2021

A special investigation team of the Karnataka police on Saturday arrested five of the six suspects, including a juvenile, from Tamil Nadu in the alleged gang-rape of an MBA student from Mumbai at the Chamundi foothills in Mysuru on the night of August 24. A manhunt is on to nab the missing accused, reports Milton Lawrence.

“One of them claims he is 17 years old. We are verifying it,” Karnataka DGP Praveen Sood said. The DGP said the accused, all from Tirupur and Erode districts in Tamil Nadu, were engaged in carpentry and wiring and two of them were drivers. The drivers used to visit Mysuru frequently to transport vegetables and other commodities to the APMC Yard, and often brought along friends. They camped in open spaces during their stay in Mysuru.

Some of the rape accused were booked in theft cases in past: DGP

Sood said, “The accused were partying together when the crime was committed,” refusing to disclose their names since investigation is on.

The arrests come four days after the student was assaulted and her classmate was thrashed in Lalithadripura. Police said the accused followed the duo to the secluded stretch. Sood had been tasked by chief minister Basavaraj Bommai to oversee the probe. “After the Nirbhaya incident (2012), there is a direction from the court to try even 16-yearolds involved in heinous crimes in regular courts like adults,” the DGP said.

“It was not a pre-planned attack. On August 24, the accused, who were allegedly drunk, saw the couple go into the secluded area and followed them. They surrounded the couple and demanded ₹3 lakh from them. When they refused to pay, the men beat the young woman’s friend. The crime took place between 7pm and 8pm,” he added. Hospital sources said the rape survivor has been discharged and has proceeded to Mumbai.

Sood said the victim is in a state of shock and could not give a statement, her classmate gave some details though he was unconscious for some time during the crime.

“The special teams managed to arrest the five accused, mostly relying on technical and scientific evidence, which included a bus ticket and liquor bottles,” he said, lauding the force for cracking the case.

“Police have succeeded in cracking the case and have arrested five accused in less than four days. It has been a huge challenge for the police and the government... It shows the efficiency of Karnataka police,” chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said. Home minister Araga Jnanendra has announced a reward of ₹5 lakh for the investigating team.

The DGP said some of the accused have been previously booked in cases related to theft, among others, and it is not clear if they targeted other couples as well. “A lot of investigation needs to be done in the case. The police will file a chargesheet based on scientific and forensic evidence and we will request the high court to expedite the trial of the case and convict them at the earliest, on the lines of the Manipal and Nagarabhavi gang rape cases.”

Mysore univ withdraws 6pm curfew circular

Mysuru:

The University of Mysore (UoM) on Saturday withdrew its order restricting women students from venturing outside the varsity campus unaccompanied after 6pm, following widespread furore over the move. The circular had been issued in the wake of security concerns raised by authorities after six men gang-raped an MBA student and assaulted her male friend at Mysuru’s Chamundi foothills on August 24 night.

A fresh circular issued in its place appeals to students to be careful on campus while the bar on entry at Kukkarahalli Lake after 6.30pm remains. “We had issued the earlier order keeping in mind the safety of students. Now we have withdrawn it,” UoM registrar R Shivappa confirmed, adding that security has been tightened around the lake during evening hours. KPCC president DK Shivakumar demanded the immediate removal of the registrar. TNN