Saffron outfits protest against Deralakatte sex blackmail

Mangalore, Dec 24: Members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here on Tuesday, against the alleged forced sex and blackmailing of two medical students by a gang of men in Deralakatte.

Condemning the shocking incident, the local units of both organizations came down heavily on the anti-social elements in the society for causing such incidents.

Addressing the protestors, working president of VHP Mangalore unit Jagadish Shenava said that Mangalore had become infamous for incidents such as crime against women in the recent times. There must be a thorough investigation in this case as the accused are repeating offenders and have several cases registered against them. There has been no uproar in the district even though it is a deplorable incident. No authority or organisation raises an issue if the accused in such crimes are minorities. Even though the accused in the case tried to assault the police, they have been released from custody in eleven hours, he criticised, stating that what had occurred was inhuman and shameful.

Alleging political pressure on the police department to ensure lax treatment to the accused, he said that adequate security should be given to the female victim in the case so as to enable her to come forward and testify against the accused. The victims should be given moral support and the police department should not bow to political pressure, he said.

He said that the case should be referred to CID investigation and should be transferred to a fast-track court for speedy justice to the victims.

Bajrang Dal member Jitendra Kottary said that the government was following anti-Hindu policies since it came to power in the state, with its amendment to anti cow-slaughter bill and anti-superstition bill.

Incidents such as youth indulging in love-jihad to trap Hindu girls are on the rise in the district. Unless they are checked, they will continue to rise. Hence, appropriate punishment should be given to the perpetrators of such crimes, he said, adding that justice should be given to the victims in connection with the Deralakatte kidnap and blackmail case.

It could be recalled here that police had detained eight youths last week in connection with Deralakalle blackmail case. The miscreants, after kidnapping two medical students, took them to an isolated place, forced them to engage in sexual acts, video-graphed and then blackmailed, according to police sources.