Karwar, May 20: A bandh called by various organisations in Karwar on Saturday to protest against the alleged police inaction and the delay in the investigation of the death of Vinanti Salgaonkar, a class 9 student, passed off peacefully, with no untoward incident being reported from any part of the city.
The protesters went ahead with the bandh plan despite pleas against it by Anand Asnotikar, Minister for Fisheries, Science and Technology.
Vinanti's parents and some organisations have been seeking a fresh inquiry into the reasons for her death. They stated that it was a case of murder. However, the police claim that Vinanti set herself ablaze.
Vinanti was found with burns in her in home about three months ago. After battling for life for a few days in a hospital in Goa, she succumbed to burns. Following investigations, the police said that it appeared to be a case of suicide. But, they are still waiting for the report from the forensic laboratory from Hyderabad to reach a conclusion.
But the relatives and local people gave a bandh call ignoring the request of the Superintendent of Police to wait till two more reports from the forensic laboratory were received.
Shops and business establishments remained closed and autorickshaws were off the road. Banks and government offices functioned as usual while KSRTC buses plied as usual. Tight security was made in sensitive areas of Karwar.
A procession was taken out and a memorandum was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner. The protesters accused the police of deliberately trying to protect those behind the girl's murder.
The protesters warned that they would intensify their agitation if the accused in the case were not arrested at the earliest.
Superintendent of Police K. T. Balakrishna said the death of Vinanti had taken place in a hospital in Goa and hospitals in that State refer cases to central forensic laboratory in Hyderabad. The laboratory in Hyderabad would get many cases every day and they were analysed on the basis of seniority, Mr. Balakrishna said.
He said the police had received one report and were awaiting two more. Since the report had technical terms, it had been sent to a professor of a medical college for interpretation, he said.
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