Bengaluru rape bid: Fourteen-day custody for accused

BENGALURU:  A night after the arrest of Akshay, a 24-year-old rowdy sheeter, who had attempted to rape a 22-year-old woman after kidnapping in Kathriguppe, was produced before the local court on Tuesday late evening. Magistrate Mohan Prabhu   remanded Akshay to 14 days judicial custody.

The incident took place on April 23 night, at Kathriguppe circle and the CCTV camera had captured the chilling incident. A senior police officer said that Akshay, a habitual offender, was remanded to judicial custody after interrogation, where he had confessed to the crime.

The police also recorded the statement of the survivor, who narrated the incident and told the police that she decided not to lodge a complaint as she felt that such a move would adversely affect her.

On Tuesday evening, the police after recording the survivor’s statement, sent her to Victoria hospital for medical examination. The police further said that her statement will be recorded once again before the magistrate soon.

The victim, who works in a private beauty clinic, was dragged to an under construction building by Akshay, while she was speaking on her mobile phone in front of her PG accommodation. She managed to escape after biting his hand.

“When a team of police reached Akshay’s house to arrest him, he was preparing to leave the city. He hails from Ramanagra Taluk and came to the city many years ago. He has been living in Kathriguppe for past few years and was working with cab aggregators,” added a senior police officer.

For women danger lurks in every corner

The April 23 April kidnap and molestation case of a woman hailing from north-east has shocked the city yet again, raising questions about women’s safety. While the police have yet again failed making the city streets safe for its women, lack of police patrolling has become a major concern, as this fast growing city has only 154 policemen per 1 lakh population.

Who should be blamed for April 23 incident at Kathriguppe - the city police, the BBMP authorities (as the area was not well-lit), the P.G. owner, the neighbours or the city residents, who remained mute spectators, while she cried for help.

While the police claim that they are doing everything possible and taking up measures such as awareness programmes, community policing, regular beat policing and stepping-up night patrolling, however the safety and security of women in the city remains a farce.

Dr Lalrinawmi Ralte (Rini), president of North-east helpline Bengaluru, told Deccan Chronicle, “This particular incident is very fortunate from my point of view, as there was clear evidence in the form of CCTV footage. Otherwise, we deal with lot of obstacles when we don’t have enough proof. However, the larger question remains still unanswered as where we are heading to? Why we are not coming out and helping each other.”

 Former DG & IGP S.T Ramesh pointed out, “The police come at the end in the abduction and the molestation case of a 22-year-old north-eastern girl in Kathriguppe incident.

Be it the government, the criminal justice system, BBMP authorities, the local citizens of the society at large, or the police, all are stake holders in this case. It was a classic example of the by-stander apathy, where citizens were mute spectators to the horrific incident of abduction and molestation.

The police have scant resources but multifarious duties to perform over a vast area. They cannot be held solely responsible for such incidents unless they are provided adequate resources.

Having said this, the accused is a known bad element in the area of the police station and police will have to answer what preventive action has taken against this rowdy element.”