Bantwal: Soumya murder - political parties join hands, demand death penalty to accused
Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (VM)
Pics: Kishore Peraje
Bantwal, Feb 27: A large number of people including party members from BJP, Congress and JD(S) gathered in front of taluk office at B C Road here on Wednesday February 27, demanding death penalty to the accused arrested in connection with Soumya’s attempted rape and murder.
Addressing the protest, MLA Ramanath Rai, "The fact that such an incident could take place that too in broad daylight is a matter of shame to the society. This gathering has been called in order create awareness among people. We need to put a stop to such kinds of incidents."
He also urged the government to allot some funds for the family of Soumya.
Former MLA Rukmaiah Poojary addressing the gathering asked lawyers not to fight the case in the favour of the accused. "In this regard an appeal will be sent to the bar council members," he said.
Congress leader Harikrishna Bantwal condemned the incident and demanded death penalty to the accused. JD(S) Youth district president Krishnappa Poojary warned that the protest would continue till justice was delivered and strict action taken against the accused. He also urged public support for their protest.
Some locals who were part of the protest expressed fears that the case may be diluted by declaring the accused as mentally unstable.
After the protest, a memorandum was submitted to the government through the tahsildar demanding strict action on the case.
Chandraprakash Shetty, zilla panchayat member, Mamatha Gatti, MS Mohammed, Chennappa Kotian, Ananda Shambur, taluk panchayat vice-president, Dinesh Amtoor, Abbas Ali, Mayilappa Salian, B H Khader, Padmanabha Naringana, Mohan C S, Madhava Mave, Pushpavathi among others were present.
Janardhan Poojary raises Rs 1 lac for victim's family
Former union minister Janardhan Poojary visited Soumya's family on Wednesday and handed over Rs 1,10,000 collected from the district Congress party workers during a press meet in Mangalore. The entire amount was handed over to Soumya’s father Seetaram Purusha.
Speaking to reporters later, he condemned the cruel act and said that the incident had brought shame to the society. "I have already spoken to higher police officials pertaining to the matter so that the accused gets maximum punishment. We should see to it that such incidents do not recur," he said.
"Temple priests, church priests and mosque heads should work together to ensure that youth are not misguided and that they do not imbibe crude behaviour. Youth should treat women equally and with respect, and in this regard, the elders should guide them in the right direction," he said.
On the occasion, KPCC secretary Ashwani Kumar Rai, Congress leader Harikrishna Bantwal, zilla panchayat member Chandraprakash Shetty, Panemangalore block Congress president Abbas Ali, P V Mohan among others were present.