‘Local police may not conduct fair inquiry into the incident’
Two victims of the July 28 attack, allegedly by Hindutva activists at a ‘homestay’ in Padil, have demanded that the case be handed over to the Karnataka Criminal Investigation Department (CID) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The local police were hand in glove with the forces that were trying to hush up the case, they alleged.
Vijay Kumar and Gurudutt Kamath, event managers who were celebrating two birthdays, including that of Mr. Vijay Kumar’s, at the Morning Mist Home Stay at Padil on the outskirts Mangalore on July 28 when the attack took place, made the demand for CID or CBI probe at a press conference here on Saturday.
‘We were ill-treated’
They said they do not believe that the local police would conduct a fair investigation into the July 28 attack. In a statement issued during the press conference, they alleged that police had ill-treated them on the day of the attack. While they were made to wait without food or water at Pandeshwar police station, those who attacked them were allowed to move about freely. “Till 11 p.m., we were treated as if we were the accused,” the statement said. The police appeared to be interested in getting undertakings (saying they would not host such parties in future) from the victims instead of registering a case. They also said police had taken the signature of one of them on a blank sheet of paper.
Police atrocity
The police had asked them to report to the police station the next day. When they did, the police had abused them using foul language after making them stand next to one another.
On the day of the attack, Mr. Vijay Kumar alleged that an officer of the rank of inspector slapped him while another victim was assaulted by another policeman. A complaint would be lodged with the Human Rights Commission, Mr. Vijay Kumar and Mr. Gurudutt Kamath said.
Police complicity
A friend of the victims, who did not like to be named, said he had seen four policemen enter the ‘homestay’ premises where the attack was being carried out within three minutes after the Hindutva activists had barged in. However, the police did not rush to the aid of the victims. Instead, they took their own time to enter the building. The eye-witness said he had even seen a Hindutva activist leading the police into the ‘Homestay’ soon after the attack began.
Report condemned
Mr. Vijay Kumar and Mr. Gurudutt Kamath criticised the report of the Karnataka State Commission for Women which which spoke about victims smoking ganja. “The police had not found any ganja on the ‘homestay’ premises,” they said, pointing out that the women’s commission had not bothered to meet the women who had been attacked. They said the report should be rejected by the State government and commission Chairperson C. Manjula should be dismissed.
Public prosecutor
They urged the government to appoint a public prosecutor to fight their case and help them get justice.
Police accused of having taken the signature of a victim on a blank sheet of paper ‘Appoint a public prosecutor to fight our case and help us get justice’
