BJP MLA Munirathna booked in gangrape case
Bengaluru, May 21 (PTI): An FIR has been filed against BJP MLA Munirathna and his accomplices after a 40-year-old woman accused him of gang-raping her and urinating on her face and injecting her with a deadly virus, police said on Wednesday.
The FIR was registered based on the complaint of a BJP worker at RMC Yard police station on Tuesday, they said.
In her complaint, the woman, claiming to be a BJP worker, alleged that the incident occurred at the MLA's office in Mathikere on June 11, 2023. The complainant alleged that she was taken to his office in a car by his accomplices.
Three accomplices of the MLA involved in the incident have been named in the FIR while the identity of the fourth accused is unknown.
She alleged that after reaching his office, the MLA along with two of his accomplices allegedly stripped her despite her pleas and he even threatened to kill her son if she did not co-operate. Munirathna then allegedly instructed the two men to rape her, the FIR stated.
The woman further alleged that the MLA also urinated on her face and during the incident, an unknown man allegedly entered the room and gave the MLA a white box. He took a syringe from the box and injected her, she alleged.
According to the FIR, the MLA allegedly threatened her that if she disclosed it to anyone, he will not spare her family and will destroy them.
In January this year, she was hospitalised and she was allegedly diagnosed with an incurable virus and she connected dots with the injection incident. On May 19, distressed at what has allegedly happened to her, she said to have consumed pills and fell unwell. Subsequently, she decided to report the matter to police.
The complainant also mentioned about a previous incident before this assault, where the BJP MLA had allegedly influenced others to file false cases against her at Peenya and RMC Yard police stations.
Later, when she was released from jail, the MLA's accomplices met her and assured her that Munirathna would help clear the charges against her and under that pretext, she was allegedly lured back to his office.
The FIR against the BJP MLA and others have been filed under sections 376 D (gangrape), 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 323 ( voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 504 (Intentional insult to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, according to the police.
There was no immediate reaction from the MLA.
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Hamas alleges abuse, collective punishment at Rafah crossing, Gaza exit still remains restricted
Gaza: Hamas on Tuesday accused Israeli authorities of subjecting Palestinians returning to Gaza through the Rafah crossing to mistreatment, abuse and extortion, describing the alleged actions as collective punishment rather than routine border procedures.
In a statement, the Palestinian group claimed that testimonies from travellers pointed to practices such as the detention of women, blindfolding, prolonged interrogations, threats involving children and attempts to coerce individuals into collaboration. Hamas said these actions were intended to instil fear and discourage Palestinians from returning to their homes, and called on international human rights organisations to document the alleged violations, as reported by AL Jazeera.
The allegations come amid continued uncertainty over the functioning of the Rafah crossing, which reopened on Monday after nearly two years of closure. According to reports, around 135 Palestinians have reached the crossing seeking permission to travel abroad for urgent medical treatment, though only a small number have been allowed to exit so far.
On the first day of reopening, Israel permitted only five critically ill patients to cross into Egypt. On Tuesday, a limited number of additional patients were reportedly allowed to leave, while the return of Palestinians to Gaza has also remained slow and unclear.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has expressed concern over the lack of clarity surrounding the crossing’s operations. ICRC spokesperson Pat Griffiths said the uncertainty was compounding the suffering of Palestinians who have already endured prolonged trauma, noting that many expressed a desire to return to normal life despite understanding that recovery would take considerable time.
Journalists reporting from southern Gaza told Al Jazeera that families were anxiously waiting for relatives separated for years, with little information on who would be allowed to cross or return. Restrictions at the crossing, including limits on personal belongings and lengthy screening processes, have further added to delays.
