Two years on, Manipal rape case yet to see an end

It is almost two years since a medical student was abducted and raped near Manipal.

The incident happened on June 20, 2013, even as the case is continuing at the district and sessions court here.

The medical student of Manipal University, hailing from Kerala, was abducted by three persons in an autorickshaw around 11.30 p.m. near the university library, when she was going to her residence located outside the university campus. They took her to a secluded area in Ontibettu village, about 6 km from Manipal, and gang-raped her.

After a manhunt, the police nabbed the suspects Yogesh Poojary, Hariprasad Poojary, and Anand on June 27. They were charged under Sections 366, 376D, 506 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

The police also arrested Balachandra, brother of Yogesh, and Harindra, brother of Hariprasad, on the charge of trying to destroy evidence on July 2. However, Balachandra and Harindra were released on bail in December.

The trial in case began at the district and sessions court here on January 6, 2014. The medical student deposed before court here on February 3. There were 106 witnesses in the case. Sixty-two witnesses have been examined. Meanwhile, the advocate representing the accused, Purushotham Poojary, passed away in Mangaluru on May 6, 2014, and they are since being represented by Prabhakar Acharya.

Long time

Writer Vaidehi told The Hindu on Thursday that two years was a long time. “The delay in the case is unpardonable. Legal procedures should be modified so that such cases are speedily disposed of. Delays only encourage the perpetrators of such crimes,” she said.

Writer Kathyayini Kunjibettu said such a delay would result in people losing their faith in the legal system.

‘An injustice’

“It is an injustice, if you see it from the viewpoint of the rape survivor. At least in cases of sexual assault, the system needs to function faster,” she said.

However, T.S. Jituri, Public Prosecutor, said that the court had given priority to the case. “

First, the accused approached the High Court of Karnataka, then the State approached the Supreme Court. The advocate representing the accused also passed away and they had to get a new lawyer. There has been no delay on the part of the court here,” he said.

Meanwhile, there has been tight security on the Manipal University campus ever since the incident.

There are 106 witnesses in the case

Sixty-two witnesses have been examined

Such a delay would result in people losing their faith in the legal system: Kathyayini Kunjibettu