The Karimnagar district police, which was once a role model for the entire State in the people-friendly policing and prevention of crime, has now attained the dubious distinction of the district with high incidences of crimes against women in the State.
During this month alone, four gruesome incidents took place in the district. An intermediate student was allegedly raped by habitual offender Dhoom Khalid and his gang by taking the girl to an isolated place at Bommakal on the outskirts of Karimnagar town on Sunday last. Later, there were differences within the gang, and the other members beat up Khalid who is now undergoing treatment for serious injuries in Hyderabad. Karimnagar rural police have registered a case.
On February 18, a 30-year-old married woman was allegedly raped by two persons – Sai and Naveen – on the shores of LMD reservoir on the outskirts of Karimnagar town. Following a complaint, Karimnagar One Town police registered a case. An Army jawan allegedly raped a 19-year-old girl in Madaka village of Pothkapalli police station limits of Odela mandal on February 23 when the girl was alone in her grandparents’ house.
A 20-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped in Veenavanka mandal recently, and the three accused – Srinivas, Anjaiah and Rakesh – filmed the assault. These cases were reported in various police stations. Besides, there were many such cases which were not reported to the police sensing fear and stigma. People living in Karimnagar are scared to go out in the evenings in areas located on the outskirts of town such as LMD reservoir, Ujwala park, or educational institutes located on the Bommakal road, Housing Board colony, etc. because of hooligans who were reigning terror and attacking the people and assaulting women and snatching away their belongings.
Though the district police machinery constituted SHE teams to protect the women, it was in vain. The women of the town have complained that they had never seen the SHE team functioning in any part of the town. “We have given several complaints to the police about the open consumption of liquor and nuisance caused by the youth and others on the roads, but the police have not taken any measures,” complained a housewife.
