Mysuru gang-rape: Karnataka HM withdraws rape remarks following opposition furore, CM's disapproval
Bengaluru/New Delhi, Aug 26: Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Thursday kicked up a row over his rape comments made in the context of a gangrape incident in Mysuru, that did not go down well with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and opposition Congress, prompting him to withdraw his controversial statement.
The home Minister's remarks that the gang rape victim and her male friend should not have gone to the deserted place and his claims that the opposition Congress was trying to 'rape' him by targetting him, following the incident, evoked sharp reactions from the opposition party, even as Jnanendra accused it of trying to derive political mileage from the 'inhuman' incident. Hitting out at the Home Minister and the ruling BJP, the Congress said they are "incapable" of protecting the people of the state.
With the issue snowballing into a major controversy and the Chief Minister also disapproving of his comments, Jnanendra withdrew his statement.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said his government will form a special team to investigate the gang-rape case and asserted that the perpetrators will be caught soon and brought to justice. Bommai also disapproved of the comments made by Jnanendra and said, "I just don't agree with the comments made by my Home Minister regarding the gang-rape incident. I have advised him to give a clarification."
"I have directed the officials to pursue the matter seriously and update me on the developments," he added.
"Once the DGP (Director General of Police) and I reach Bengaluru, we will immediately form a special team," Bommai, who was on a two-day visit to the national capital, told PTI.
A college girl was allegedly raped by five men near Chamundi Hills in Mysuru late on Tuesday and the incident came to light on Wednesday.
The girl and her male friend, who was assaulted by the gang, are undergoing treatment in a private hospital.
"Around 7-7:30 pm (on Tuesday) they (the victim and male friend) had gone there. It is a deserted place, they should not have gone.. but we can't stop anyone from going, they have gone. It is a deserted place and no one usually goes there as no one will be there," Jnanendra said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters here, he said there are concerns about lack of police patrolling in such places and that he was going to Mysuru and hold discussions with officials to rectify the lapses.
Reacting to opposition Congress' criticism on the law and order situation in the state after the gang-rape incident, the Minister said "Rape has happened there (in Mysuru), but the Congress was trying to rape me.. they are trying to rape the Home Minister. They are trying to gain political mileage. It is an inhuman act."
"When such incidents happen, instead of exerting pressure to see it from a humanitarian perspective and detect (the culprits), attempts are on to derive political mileage in such a situation. People will see it. I will not say much on this. Instructions have been given on what has to be done by the police so that such things don't recur and we are at it," he said.
Attacking the Home Minister for his statement, state Congress President D K Shivakumar urged the police to arrest his party men involved in "raping the Home Minister", whether it is him or Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah or any other leader.
"He (Home Minister) has claimed that Congress was raping him. He is using the word rape very lightly...it seems he likes that word. I seek the response of BJP leaders on this statement. When the Home Minister is saying that Congress is raping him, what is the administration of the state doing?" he asked.
Targeting Jnanendra for his comment that the victim should not have gone to deserted place, the Congress party said, "Home Minister you have the onus of protecting the state. Are you not ashamed of making such a shabby remark?"
"With this statement he (Home Minister) has agreed that it is dangerous to venture out even at 7:30 pm under a BJP rule," it said.
Pointing out that it has been nearly 48 hours since the incident occurred and no arrest has been made, Shivakumar said it is a shame on the police department and the party was concerned about the image of Karnataka.
He said Congress is constituting a fact finding committee to look into the incident under the Chairmanship of former MP V Ugrappa. They would visit Mysuru and submit a report and the party will do everything possible to get justice for the victim.
Later, in a statement withdrawing his comments, the Home Minister clarified that he had no intention of hurting anybody in criticising the Congress leaders who had sought his resignation over the unfortunate incident in Mysuru.
"I have withdrawn the statement made earlier on the Congress party leaders," he said.
Referring to the rape incident, Jnanendra said police officials are conducting an investigation to nab the culprits.
He said the victim and her male friend are being treated in the hospital and are under medical care.
The Minister also said that security measures will be tightened further to ensure the protection of all, especially women, adding that "We are committed to ensure the safety of all sections in society."
Meanwhile, Mysuru police have intensified efforts to identify the culprits with the help of mobile phone numbers that operated in the area at the time of the crime, and are also looking into CCTV footage of nearby areas, official sources said.
They said the culprits allegedly made a video of the sexual assault and demanded money for not making it public.
Some student organisations staged protests in Mysuru, demanding justice for the victim.
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
