Police also involved in homestay attack: Women's Commission chief

Mangalore, August 2: The police are also involved in the homestay attack where students were assaulted by Hindutva activists, C Manjula, Chief of the Karnataka State Women's Commission, has alleged.

Addressing mediapersons at a press meet in Mangalore on August 2, Ms. Manjula blamed the police department for the attack. “The locals had complained to the police about activities in the homestay about 8 months ago but they did not take action. Now it has come to light that the homestay is illegal and was running without a license. Had the police acted then, the attacks would not have taken place”, Ms. Manjula said.

Even with regard to the homestay attack, the police gave her evasive replies, she said. When asked if she thinks the police are also involved in the attacks, Ms. Manjula said “There was inaction on the part of the police and inaction is involvement”.

Stating that she had spoken to a couple of female victims, Ms. Manjula said that the girls visited the homestay to celebrate the birthday of their friend, a PUC student. “The girl told me that they went to the place in uniforms but were given different dresses there. The police sent them back to their homes in those very uniforms.

The families of the victims are unhappy about the visuals of the attack being aired by media, Ms. Manjula said. They have expressed pain over the revealing of identity of the victims by some media, she said.

Stating that reports of a college not allowing a victim to write exams has come to her notice, Mr. Manjula urged on the occasion that the girls be allowed to continue their education, and revealed that she will speak to the Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University later in the day.

'Won't point finger at organisations now'

Ms. Manjula said that although she condemns the act, she would not point fingers at any saffron organization directly at present.

“The police have not told me about any organisation's involvement. I would only say that all organisations must maintain control over their activists”, she said.

She also denied that the state government is also to be held responsible for the attacks.

'Male victims' background should be probed'

The State Women's Commission chief said on the occasion that she finds the background of Vijay Kumar and Gurudutt Kamath, the two boys who were also attacked at the homestay, 'suspicious'.

“Vijay Kumar is not a student. He is a professional who organizes parties and all his financial transactions are orally conducted. Gurudutt Kamath's mother was charged of human trafficking in 2009 but due to lack of witnesses, the case was dropped. A probe should be held in their backgrounds and the connection between the girls who were attacked and them. In every district, there are cases of young girls going missing and there are certain forces looking to misuse girls. A probe should be held and all these things need to looked into', she said.