Mangalore, Jan 9: Thousands of students took part in a mass protest rally from Ambedkar Circle to Nehru Maidan organised by Jagruta Mahila Vedike, Mangalore, against the recent case of kidnap, forced sex and blackmail of two medical students in Deralakatte.
Following the rally, a massive protest and awareness programme was conducted in Nehru Maidan where BJP leaders and ABVP members took part.
Addressing the gathering, state BJP Mahila Morcha vice president Sulochana G Bhat said that the Deralakatte forced sex case was no different than the Delhi Nirbhaya case that had occurred a year ago. We have to strongly condemn this and unitedly fight against this, she said.
In the homestay attack few months ago, the accused were booked under Goonda Act, but in this case of such magnitude, the police hesitated even to register a case against the rapists. It is a situation of double standards for different culprits. If the police had independently taken prompt action, then there was no need for any protest against it, she said.
She expressed her suspicion that the male victim in the case was also involved with the gang that kidnapped them. It is highly suspicious that the male victim was not subjected to a probe by the police, nor was his statement taken, she said, alleging the local politicians of trying to protect persons from the same community and indulging in vote-bank politics.
ABVP national secretary Mamata Yadav said that environment of fear created in the society due to increasing number of crimes against women had to be cleared. “Women know that problem will not be resolved in a single day. Awareness has to be created in the society, which is why we have gathered here today. A year after the Nirbhaya gang-rape incident in Delhi, the question of women's safety still lingers on,” she said.
Questioning the administration's silence on the issue of women's security, she said that the government was running away from its responsibility. “We demand that such crimes should not occur again, and the government should respond to our demand,” she said, encouraging girls to strengthen their minds and toughen their bodies in order to save themselves from being victims of crime.
Advocate Asha Prasad demanded a full stop to the rising crimes against women in the society.
Sadhvi Mata Anandamayi also addressed the gathering.
Honorary president of Jagruta Mahila Vedike Kamala Prabhakar Bhat read out a list of decisions taken in the programme such as booking the eight accused in Deralakatte case under Goonda Act and charges of gang-rape, along with 20 years of rigorous imprisonment. Another decision was transferring the case to a fast-track court and ensuring swift justice and appropriate protection for the victim in the case.
Other decisions include detailed probe on the web of criminals operating in the district, a special police task-force in every district, a fear-free environment in college campuses for safety of female students and a police out-post in college campuses with above 3,000 students.
Writer Dr S R Leela, BJP leaders Pushpalatha Gatty, Mallika Prasad and several others took part in the awareness programme.
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