The police have yet to make arrests in the case related to the kidnapping and gang-rape of a medical student of Manipal University. The student, hailing from Kerala, was abducted by three unidentified men in an autorickshaw and sexually assaulted outside the university premises on Thursday night. She is recovering at Kasturba Hospital.
Speaking to presspersons here on Saturday, Pratap Reddy, IGP (Western Range), said that when the student was abducted in the autorickshaw near the university library, she shouted out for help. Two security guards heard her and chased the autorickshaw for some distance. However, the autorickshaw sped away towards the Marena Indoor Sports Complex.
The guards, who recovered a purse and a mobile phone, informed the police. The police scoured Manipal in search of the autorickshaw, but they were out of luck. Though the student returned to her apartment around 2.45 p.m., the police are yet to determine how she got back.
Her roommate informed the university authorities and, together with the police, they reached her apartment and recorded whatever sketchy details she gave about the incident.
Shifted to ward
Since the student was in a state of shock after the trauma, she was shifted to Kasturba Hospital. Her leg was fractured and her body was covered with scratches. She underwent surgery to set right the fracture. “She is in a fairly stable condition and out of danger. She has been shifted from the Intensive Care Unit to the ward,” Mr. Reddy said.
“We do not want to conduct any intrusive investigation. The doctors and counsellors are gathering information from the student in the presence of a senior woman police officer. But we do not want to put any pressure on her,” he said.
Eight teams
Mr. Reddy said the police had formed eight teams, who have been assigned specific tasks to crack the case. The spot where the rape took place has been identified, but it is yet to be confirmed by the student.
To a question, Mr. Reddy said local persons appeared to be involved in the crime. The police have clues with regard to the autorickshaw number though it could have been stolen. The student did not know the three persons who raped her. “We are treating the case as a gang-rape,” he said.
To another question, he said the CCTV cameras at the univesity had not recorded the incident. Since the university had students from other States and countries, a comprehensive security plan would be worked out, he said.
Home Minister’s visit
Home Minister K.J. George will visit Manipal to enquire about the case on Sunday, Mr. Reddy said.
Series of protests
Meanwhile, a series of protests were held by various organisations in Udupi condemning the gang-rape. A large number of students participated in the protests.
