No question of sparing anyone in gangrape case: CM Siddaramaiah
Haveri (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said there was no question of sparing anyone involved in the gangrape of a woman allegedly by six youth. Six people allegedly barged into a hotel room and assaulted an inter-faith couple during their stay in Hanagal Taluk of Haveri district on January 8, following which two of them have been arrested.
The BJP has accused that attempts are being made to hush up the case.
"We have arrested all the accused persons. Investigation is going on. We will not allow anyone to take law into their hands irrespective of the faith and caste they belong to," the Chief Minister told reporters here.
Stating that no will be allowed to law into their hands, Siddaramaiah said the government will take action as per law. There is no question of sparing anyone, he added. On the question of no one from the government having consoled her or offered any relief, the Chief Minister said he received the application just now and government will consider her plea.
Regarding the BJP's demand for setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT), Siddaramaiah explained that those investigating the case now are police and those who will be part of the SIT will be police only.
"Investigations are going on. Let the preliminary investigation report come out. Just because former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has demanded an SIT probe we will not form it," the Chief Minister said.
He also said there is no question of covering up the case.
"Those who perpetrated the crime will face stringent action," Siddaramaiah said.
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old survivor alleged that no protection was given to her when she was taken home.
She also said that at least two accused whose photographs police showed her were not involved in the crime. The survivor also charged that the police were not investigating the case seriously.
According to the survivor, the incident happened on January 8. At 1 pm, she checked into the hotel room with a KSRTC driver aged 40, with whom she has been in a relationship for the past three years, they said.
The entire assault which happened inside the hotel room was filmed by the gang.
The videos later became viral after they got circulated on social media platforms, police said.
In one of the purported videos, six men could be seen knocking on the door of a room. When a man opens the door, the assailants could be seen barging in and heading towards the woman. The gang verbally abused the couple, assaulted them and filmed the woman while she tried to cover her face with a burqa.
Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday charged that attempts have been made to hush up the moral policing incident in Haveri by offering money to the victim.
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Journalist Rana Ayyub faces targeted harassment after right-wing handle shares her number online
Mumbai: Renowned journalist and author Rana Ayyub faced a disturbing wave of targeted harassment after a Twitter account, known as ‘The Hindutva Knight,’ allegedly shared her personal phone number online, urging its followers to contact her. Ayyub, known for her investigative journalism and outspoken critiques of right-wing politics, reported receiving a relentless stream of calls, video calls, and obscene messages throughout the night, leaving her and her family in distress and without rest.
Around 1:15 am, Ayyub’s phone began ringing incessantly, as people sent abusive messages and calls, with some even attempting to video-call her in the early hours. She took to social media to express her anguish, describing the night as a "nightmare," as she endured targeted harassment by supporters of the right-wing handle.
In a tweet tagging Mumbai Police, the National Commission for Women (NCW), and Mumbai's cybercrime unit, Ayyub wrote, “I have lived a nightmare. This right-wing handle posted my number on Twitter… My phone did not stop ringing through the night… Is this how you plan to protect women, is this how women must feel safe in the country?”
Ayyub is an award-winning journalist, whose work has brought to light critical issues within the Indian political landscape. She is best known for her investigative reporting on sensitive topics, including her extensive investigation into alleged misconduct in Gujarat during 2002, published in her bestselling book Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Cover-Up. Ayyub’s courage in challenging powerful figures and exposing controversial matters has earned her respect internationally, while also making her a frequent target of right-wing trolls and critics, who often attempt to silence or intimidate her through online abuse.
In her social media statement, Ayyub highlighted the growing issue of targeted online harassment of women in India, noting that her experience reflects a broader culture of intimidation that aims to silence female voices, especially those that question the status quo. She questioned the effectiveness of authorities, pointing out that despite numerous complaints to the Mumbai Police in the past, similar attacks persist. "If this can happen to me, a woman with a public profile," she stated, "I shudder to think what happens to women who might not have my privilege or platform."
Ayyub’s experience brings to light the challenges faced by women journalists in India, especially those who address politically sensitive issues. Many women in media, particularly those who critique right-wing ideologies, report receiving abuse, threats, and other forms of harassment as part of a disturbing pattern of online attacks that often go unchecked.
I have lived a nightmare. At around 1 am tonight, this right wing handle posted my number on twitter, asked his followers to text me. My phone did not stop ringing through the night. Video calls, obscene Whats app msgs. Hello @MumbaiPolice @NCWIndia, this was targeted harassment pic.twitter.com/3LOc1BaO1Z
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) November 8, 2024
