The BJP opposed the relocation of the survivor to her home, alleging that the Congress is making concerted efforts to suppress the case.
Representational image. (Creative Commons)
The Karnataka police have made two more arrests in the Hangal moral policing and gang rape case which sent shockwaves across the country.
The two accused were arrested late on Saturday, 13 December, and with this, the police have arrested a total of six people and are in search of another two accused.
The police are probing two cases — moral policing and gang rape — related to the incident which transpired in the Hangal town of the Haveri district.
Meanwhile, the BJP has vehemently opposed the relocation of the survivor to her home in Sirsi, alleging that the Congress party is making concerted efforts to suppress the case.
The two accused have been identified as Imran Bashir Jakkinkatti and Rehan Mohammed Hussain Walikar, residents of the Akkialur village in the Hangal taluka.
Meanwhile, Haveri Superintendent of Police (SP) Anshu Kumar said that the police were on the lookout for two more accused.
Kumar told South First: “We have arrested two more people in the gang rape case. One was caught at Bankapur town in Haveri and another in Davanagere. We have made six arrests so far.”
He added: “The investigation team is looking out for two more accused in the case. We are yet to receive medical reports. The investigation is underway.”
The Haveri SP, however, refrained from answering whether the accused made any confession connected to the case.
Aftab Chandanakatti (24), Madarasaba Mandakki (23), and Samivulla Lalanavar (30) are the other accused who have been arrested in this case.
Another accused, Mohammed Saif Savikeri, met with an accident on 9 January. He sustained serious injuries and is being treated at Haveri District Hospital.
It may be recalled that the case of moral policing was reported at Hangal Police Station on 10 January even as the incident occurred on 8 January.
It came to light after an employee of the Idigas Lodge filed a complaint against three accused of barging into the lodge and attacking an interfaith couple.
Based on the complaint, the police arrested two persons and produced the survivors before the Court of Judicial Magistrate of First Class in Hangal on 11 January.
While giving her statement before the judge, the survivor alleged that she was abducted and gang raped by seven people. Based on the survivors’ statements, the police had registered gang rape charges under section 376 (D) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Meanwhile, the survivor was shifted to Sirsi by local police on Sunday morning. She was residing at Santwana Kendra in Haveri town for the last few days.
The case took a political turn as the Opposition party BJP alleged that the Congress government was trying to shut this case.
“The atrocities against women have increased in the state. The law and order has gone for a toss,” claimed the Leader of the the Opposition in the state Assembly R Ashok.
Even though a delegation led by the BJP women’s wing tried to meet the survivor on Sunday, they had to return without meeting her as she was shifted to her hometown on Saturday night.
The survivor was abruptly shifted to Sirsi late on Sunday morning, sparking a contentious dispute between political factions.
The BJP vehemently protested this unexpected relocation, alleging that the Congress was making concerted efforts to suppress the case.
She had been residing at a Santwana Kendra in Haveri town in recent days, but after a reported meeting between her and a Congress MLA at a women’s centre on Saturday, the police moved her to Sirsi town on Sunday morning.
This decision not only thwarted the BJP’s scheduled visit by a women’s delegation but has also fuelled accusations of a deliberate attempt by the ruling party to stifle the investigation.
“The local police got information about the visit of the BJP women’s delegation to Haveri. The Congress had been doing this kind of politics and what more can be expected from them,” said former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Karnataka BJP vice-president Malvika Avinash was part of the party’s delegation that went to Haveri to meet the survivor on Sunday but had to return without meeting the survivor.
“She has been quietly shifted to her hometown Sirsi. This unexpected development happened after they came to know that we would be meeting her,” Malvika told South First.
“We met the warden at the rehabilitation centre. We spoke to the Inspector General of Police of this range. We demanded for a fair and clean investigation,” added the BJP vice-president.
On the Congress MLA meeting the survivor late at night on Saturday, the Haveri SP told reporters on Sunday: “The Santwana Kendra will not be in our control. The local inspector was at the centre. I will verify the permit approved for the MLA’s visit to the centre at 11 pm.”
He added: “I will also verify who all were there at the centre. If the survivor wishes to meet anyone, we are not allowed to disturb it. I have already spoken with Uttara Kannada SP (N Vishnuvardhan) regarding providing security to the survivor’s residence at Sirsi.”
Meanwhile, alleging that the ruling party is attempting to close the case, the BJP demanded the government constitute an SIT (Special Investigation Team) to probe the incident.
BJP’s former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters in Hubballi on Sunday: “Efforts have been made to hush up the moral policing incident of Haveri by offering money to the survivor. The cops of Haveri offered money to the victims to close the Hangal incident.”
“The government must constitute a Special Investigation Team to probe this incident. As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would visit Haveri on Monday, the BJP expects him to announce in this regard,” said Bommai.
Ashok told reporters in Bengaluru on Sunday: “Hangal Gang rape case is taking a new turn every day. The local political leaders are being denied to meet the survivor. With the help of police, the survivor has been shifted to another place.”
“Congress is attempting to close this case. The incidents of moral policing, dadagiri (rowdyism) and assault have increased in the state. There is no law and order here.”
“The Belagavi incident has also occurred similarly. People are thinking that the government is dead. We will continue to fight against the drought and law and order issues in the state,” Ashok came heavily on the Siddaramaiah government.
(With PTI inputs)
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