The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday began an inquiry into the July 28 attack on men and women attending a birthday party.
The inquiry will be done by a four-member team headed by NCW member Shamina Shafiq. The other team members are: B. Ibrahim, former MP; social activist Harini and Ratnaprabha. “We will meet victims individually and collect their statements. We will also meet the police. We are here to know what happened on the day of the incident,” Ms. Shafiq told reporters on Thursday.
On the delay in the visit of the commission, Ms. Shafiq said the NCW took cognisance of the attack on July 30 and sought an action taken report (ATR) from the Karnataka police. “As we also received news that the State commission has already taken cognisance, we were waiting for them to complete the inquiry. We were waiting for the report to see whether findings can help to initiate action. Hence we have come now. There is no delay from us,” she said. The State police has so far not submitted the ATR to the commission, she added. Ms. Shafiq said she was not willing to make any comment on the findings of State Women’s Commission Chairperson C. Manjula. “It is their thought,” she said, but added, “the two victims that I spoke to today told me that the State commission Chairperson did not speak a word with them. This is unfortunate,” Ms. Shafiq said.
She also said it was too early for her to say anything about the attack. “It (the inquiry) is at the initial stage. I will be speaking to each of the victims and the police to know what happened. It will take its own course … it will take time.” Ms. Shafiq said the team’s findings will be based on the statements that are collected. “Once the inquiry is completed, a report will be placed before NCW Chairperson (Mamta Sharma),” she said.
Ms. Shafiq arrived at the Circuit House around 11 a.m. and had an elaborate discussion. She met two victims — Gurudutt Kamat and Vijay Kumar. A reporter of a private television channel, Naveen Soorinje, who was the first mediaperson to reach the venue of the incident and has been named in the FIR, also met the commission. He gave a detailed statement narrating the sequence of events, including the timing of the police intervention.
Visit
Ms. Shafiq also met Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner N.S. Channappa Gowda and Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner Harish Kumar. She also visited the Morning Mist Homestay where the young men and women were attacked.
The police have so far arrested 22 persons in connection with the attack.
