Demanding better security for women and stringent action in crimes against women, hundreds of students and women participated in a protest meeting on Thursday held to “condemn” the State government over its “handling” of the kidnap and filming of two medical students after forcing them to perform sexual acts at Deralakatte.
Coming together under the banner of the Jagratha Mahila Vedike with the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the Bajrang Dal participating in it, the protesters staged a rally from Ambedkar Circle (Jyothi Circle) to Nehru Maidan, where speakers accused the government of being “soft” on the perpetrators of atrocities against women.
The protest follows the incident on December 18, when two students — a boy from Kerala and a girl from Bihar — were kidnapped by eight men brandishing crude weapons. The men allegedly filmed them after forcing them to perform sexual acts in a bid to extort money from the two students. The girl was also allegedly raped by the gang.
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Sulochana G. Bhat, vice-president of State BJP Mahila Morcha, said a movement — like the massive protests seen following the Delhi rape and murder incident — was needed in the State to ensure that the accused were given stringent punishment.
ABVP National Secretary Mamata Yadav said women did not feel safe outside of their homes.
The meeting passed resolutions seeking filing of charges of rape and Goonda Act against the accused in the Deralakatte case; hearing the case in a fast-track court; protection of the victim; a special police task-force to address women atrocities; and police outposts in large colleges.
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