Mangalore, October 18: The family members of 17-year-old girl, who was found raped and murdered earlier this month in Dharmasthala, have demanded a CID probe to find out the truth behind the incident.
The demand came even as Santhosh Rao Bajagoli, the lonely accused in the case, has been remanded to judicial custody.
Addressing a press meet in Belthangady, victim's father Chandappa Gowda and grandfather Babu Gowda expressed suspicion that arrested Rao may not be the only accused in the case.
They also said that only CID probe can reveal the truth. “There have been many cases of rape and murder in Dharmasthala and surrounding areas in past few months. All these cases should investigated along with this case”, they added.
Meanwhile Hindutva outfits like Bajrang Dal, Hindu Jagaran Vedike, Vishwa Hindu Parishat and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat have demanded the police to withdraw cases filed against their supporters who confronted with police in Belthangady.
Bantwal-based advocate Prasad Kumar said it was the residents of Beltangady who had handed over the murder accused to police.
Yet, they filed false cases on the activists. This proves that police enjoy humiliating people, he said and urged the government to hand over the case to the CID.
Former MLA Shakunatala Shetty has warned that if the police repeat such practices, she would be forced to stage a dharna in front of the ASP's office.
It may be recalled here that a day after the brutal rape and murder came to light many organisations staged protests in front of police station.
Later, it was the public who traced the accused and handed him over to Beltangady police. On the same night, a huge crowd had gathered before the police department urging them to hand over the accused. The police filed cases under charges of preventing government official from discharging their duties and other sections.
When contacted, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Goyal said there was no question of withdrawing the cases.
“We were forced to file cases as miscreants damaged a police jeep and roughed up policemen on duty. But we will not punish the innocent,'' he added.
Related:
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