The police released the sketch of one of the suspects in the abduction and gang-rape of a medical student of Manipal University here on Monday.
The student, hailing from Kerala, was abducted around 11.15 p.m. on June 20, near the MCOPS building, by three persons in an autorickshaw and later gang-raped. The student, who fractured her leg, is recuperating at Kasturba Hospital in Manipal.
Releasing the sketch at a press conference here, Pratap Reddy, Inspector-General of Police (Western Range), said it had been drawn by experts in the department on the basis of the description given by the student.
The accused was of medium height, thin build, dark in colour with curly hair, and sported a French beard. The sketch was being released so that the accused could be identified with the help of the public.
Those with any information about the accused could call Sadananda Tippannanavar, police inspector, Manipal police station, on 9480805448, or the Udupi Special Cell on 9742512100 or 0820-2521257, or email spudp@ksp.gov.in.
The identity of the caller would be kept confidential.
The sketch had been given to police teams, autorickshaw drivers, and citizen volunteers.
11 teams
Nearly 200 police personnel from the Western Range, divided into 11 teams, were working on the case. The police had got CCTV footage from some individuals, besides that of the university. The footage of the autorickshaw used for the abduction was also there. The police had also shared the footage with some autorickshaw drivers. “We are working on enhancing the visual quality of the footage. We have some clues on the number of the autorickshaw,” Mr. Reddy added.
“We have leads on the autorickshaw and the suspects, which we are following. We have questioned 17 persons so far,” he said.
Mr. Reddy said the police were interacting with the medical student only through doctors. It was a slow process of getting information from her. The police would get the medical report on Tuesday evening. The police had registered the case as “sexual assault by a gang”.
‘Condition stable’
Mr. Reddy said the victim’s condition was now stable and she was being counselled.
