How Did a Man Out on Bail End Up Arrested for Raping and Murdering a Minor in Karnataka?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The accused, Karthik, was previously convicted of rape.
- He was released on bail before committing the recent crime.
- The police utilized CCTV footage to track him down.
- Local leaders are calling for stricter actions against such crimes.
- The incident highlights systemic flaws in the justice system.
Mysuru, Oct 10 (NationPress) A man who was previously out on bail for a rape case involving a government employee has been apprehended for the heinous acts of raping and murdering a nine-year-old balloon vendor in Mysuru, Karnataka.
The perpetrator, identified as Karthik, hails from Kollegal in Chamarajanagar district.
In an attempt to flee, the police were compelled to shoot him in the leg.
Mysuru Police Commissioner Seema Latkar stated, "On October 9, a rape and murder case concerning a minor was reported within the jurisdiction of the Nazarabad Police Station, specifically from the Jwalamukhi Circle near the Exhibition Centre. The case falls under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, leading to the arrest of the accused."
"While conducting the investigation to verify his identity, the accused failed to provide any identification. Initially, he claimed to reside in Siddalingapura. However, upon visiting the area, he refused to reveal his true identity. During the return journey to Mysuru, he violently assaulted the police and attempted to escape. He even attacked an officer with a bottle. The police first discharged a warning shot into the air before shooting him in the leg," Commissioner Latkar elaborated.
She further indicated that Karthik was already involved in two previous cases.
This year, he was acquitted of a case concerning a dispute with neighbors. In 2019, he was convicted for attempting to rape a female government employee in Kollegal, resulting in a four-year prison sentence, from which he was recently released on bail.
Details provided by law enforcement reveal that the accused was tracked down and arrested using CCTV footage. He had kidnapped the young girl while she was sleeping beside her parents in a tent.
In the earlier 2019 incident, Karthik attempted to rape a government employee and tried to drown her by pushing her into a lake. Convicted in February 2020, he received a four-year prison term. Instead of returning home after his release on bail, he roamed the streets.
Mysuru and Kodagu BJP MP Yaduveer Wadiyar remarked that such a horrific occurrence had never happened in Mysuru before. "The rape and murder of a minor tarnishes the reputation of society as a whole. This should not be politicized, and immediate, stringent action is necessary," he asserted.
Former BJP MP Pratap Simha expressed his outrage, stating that the incident, occurring just after the Dussehra festivities, has left the community in shock.
"A murder was recently reported from the same location in Mysuru. Now, we have the rape and murder of a minor girl. What is transpiring in Mysuru? The residents of this city feel a profound connection to it, and they are deeply distressed by these incidents," he added.
It is noteworthy that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also originates from Mysuru district.
On Thursday, the police recovered the body of the young balloon seller in Mysuru.
Authorities indicated that the girl's family belongs to one of the 50 Hakki-Pikki tribal families living near the Doddakere Grounds, opposite the Exhibition Grounds and in front of Mysuru Palace.