Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (DV)
Bantwal, Oct 10: A day after Dakshina Kannada police arrested four accused in connection with the gangrape of a minor girl, superintendent of police (SP) Sonawane Rishikesh Bhagawan on Sunday October 10 confirmed the arrest and said that the accused would be produced before the magistrate.
Addressing a press meet here on Sunday October 10 the SP said, "On October 8, a case was registered in Bantwal town police station by the victim. As per the complaint we have booked cases under 366a, 376d, 506 sections of IPC and section 4 and 6 of POCSO Act."
As per the complaint filed by the girl, the accused K S Sharath Shetty was known to the victim. He along with four others came in white car at around 8.30 am and kidnapped her while she was going to school. They took her to an isolated area and where two people sexually assaulted her, the SP said.
Acting on the complaint given by the girl, the police under the guidance of assistant superintendent of police Shivanshu Rajput, inspector T D Nagaraj, PSI Avinash and their team conducted a speedy investigation.
The SP said that contrary to the allegation made in the initial stage of the case, the girl was not kidnapped. The incident took place after the girl went to Mangaluru on demand made by Sharath Shetty.
"During the investigation we have arrested four accused namely Sharath Shetty, Maruti Manjunath, lodge manager Sathish and Hidayatulla. It has come to light that Sharath Shetty was in contact with the victim on Facebook and WhatsApp. From the past 15 days, accused Maruti Manjunath was also in touch with the victim on WhatsApp.
"Sharath and Maruti Manjunath were known to each other and the latter introduced him to the girl. Taking advantage of the friendship, Maruti had sent explicit messages to the girl. Sharath later invited the girl to Mangaluru. After the girl came to Mangaluru by bus, Sharath met her and took her to the lodge, claiming that he wanted to take some rest. In the lodge, Sharath and Hidayathulla sexually exploited the girl. Lodge manager Sathish who provided the lodge also sexually harassed the girl. All four have been arrested and they will be produced before the magistrate," the SP said.
The SP congratulated the police team for cracking the case efficiently.