Mangaluru; College student abduction and rape case: Rapist gets 7 years rigorous imprisonment
Mangaluru, June 20: The 6th additional principal and district sessions court on Wednesday sentenced a person to seven years rigorous imprisonment on charges of introducing himself to a college student through WhatsApp, abducted and raped her.
The convicted is identified as Irshad (27) of Kuminadka in Bantwal taluk.
Though the rape allegation was confirmed on Tuesday, the judge reserved the verdict for Wednesday. Under IPC Section 366 (abduction), Irshad has to undergo three years rigorous imprisonment and pay Rs 5000 penalty. If he failed to pay penalty, he has to undergo two months additional imprisonment. In rape charges under Section 376, he has to undergo seven years rigorous imprisonment and pay a penalty of Rs 10,000 and if failed to pay the penalty, he should undergo three months additional imprisonment. In the illegal detention charges under Section 342, and threatening under Section 506, he should undergo additional three months and four months imprisonment respectively, the judge said.
About the incident
An 18-year-old girl studying in a college was included into a WhatsApp group by her friend. In the same group, she was introduced to another student called Rafa. Though the student left the WhatsApp group, Rafa used to message her and she used to respond to those messages. After some days, Rafa wished her for her birthday and informed her to accept a flower bouquet sent through one of the Rafa’s relative. Following this, Irshad had visited the college and gave her the flower bouquet and wished her. After a few days, she shared her problem with Rafa that she was late to classes as she could not reach the college on time from her village. Responding to this, Rafa said she would take her to her village as she will have to go to Mangaluru. The student believed Rafa’s words.
On June 20, 2015 at 7.30 am, a car would come to the place where the student was waiting and Irshad was driving the car. After seeing Irshad, she asked about Rafa. But Irshad said she would get into the car after some time. Believing his words, the student got into the car. Later, Irshad threatened her and took her to Dharwad. When the student did not turn up to the home even after evening, her family members lodged a complaint at Bantwal police station. During the same time, Irshad family members also filed a missing complaint.
After taking her to Dharwad, he got a room at a lodge and raped her in the room. Next day, he took her to Gadag and Hubballi and raped her, it was alleged in the complaint.
Truth uncovered
But in Hubballi, Irshad disclosed the truth before the student. He admitted that he was sending the WhatsApp messages in the name of Rafa. The student came to know that she was cheated. While investigating the missing case, the police managed to take both of them into custody on June 25. When the student was brought to Mangaluru and tested in a hospital, it was confirmed that she was raped.
When she was at the hospital, she came to know that Irshad was married. This has shocked her. She had lodged a case against Irshad in Bantwal police station. Then inspector Belliyappa filed the charge sheet against Irshad to the court under abduction (366), rape (376), illegal detention (342) and threat (506). In the case, total 22 witnesses including lodge records, statements from the staff and doctors report were considered. Judith O M Crasta argued in favour of the government.
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Ayush signs off with silver at Badminton Asia Championships
Ningbo (China) (PTI): India's Ayush Shetty signed off with a silver medal after his giant-killing run ended in a straight-game loss to world No. 2 Shi Yu Qi in the final of the Badminton Asia Championships here on Sunday.
The 20-year-old from Mangalore struggled to find his rhythm, going down 8-21, 10-21 to the reigning world champion from China, as India's 61-year wait for a men's singles gold at the event continued.
Despite the loss, it was a creditable campaign from the unseeded youngster, who became only the second Indian men's singles player after Dinesh Khanna to reach the final of the continental showpiece.
Khanna remains the only Indian singles champion at the event, having won the title in 1965. Since then, only the men's doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have lifted the trophy, winning it in 2023.
World No. 25 Ayush entered the contest on the back of defeats to Shi at the Malaysia Super 1000 earlier this year and the Indonesia Masters last season. However, he had played with far greater control and attacking clarity this week, toppling world No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn, world No. 4 Jonatan Christie and world No. 7 Li Shi Feng en route to the final.
However, the Indian, a product of the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru, failed to counter the tactical discipline of Shi, who used his repertoire of strokes and deception to deny Ayush the opportunity to play his natural attacking game.
Shi dictated the geometry of the court from the outset, controlling the net exchanges and forcing Ayush into the forecourt battle early. The variation in the Chinese player’s game blunted the Indian’s attack, as his smashes lacked precision and he succumbed to scoreboard pressure, leading to rushed shot-making.
Shi Yu Qi logged the opening points with two fine net dribbles to race to a 4-0 lead, as Ayush’s smashes lacked precision early on and he trailed 2-6. A long rally ended with the Chinese player going wide, offering the Indian some respite. A deceptive net shot helped Shi move to 7-4, and he extended the lead to 11-6 as Ayush struggled for control, committing a string of unforced errors.
Shi mixed it up effectively, producing a lovely drop shot and repeatedly drawing the Indian to the forecourt with cross returns like a metronome, forcing errors. Two down-the-line smashes gave Shi a massive cushion of game points, and he sealed the opening game when Ayush sprayed a return wide.
The Indian needed a complete reset to stay alive, and he responded with a thunderous straight smash before diving on both flanks to keep the shuttle in play and move to 3-1 in the second game. Shi continued to test Ayush with backhand deceptive net strokes and pushes to the deep, but the Indian managed to retrieve everything and even found his precision in time, with an on-the-line smash confirmed by Hawk-Eye and a well-constructed rally taking him to 7-2.
However, he couldn't hold on to the momentum as the Chinese clawed back to 7-7 after two long shots and a smash into the net from Ayush. A return that kissed the backline from Shi, followed by another error from Ayush at the net and a return into the net, handed the Chinese the advantage once again at the interval, as he led 11-8.
Shi’s ability to place the shuttle into empty spaces with his repertoire of strokes, often punctuated by a fierce smash, made life difficult for the Indian as he stretched the lead to 13-8. Soon, the Chinese was up 15-9 with another powerful smash.
A body return followed by a straight smash took him to 17-9, and another long shot from Ayush further dented his chances. A perfectly angled smash into the forehand corner brought Shi within two points of victory. He then unleashed a cross-court smash to earn 10 match points and sealed the contest with a return that cramped the Indian, targeting his hip.
