Karnataka Incident: Woman Assaulted in Front of Children on Bus; Three Taken into Custody
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Synopsis
A woman was allegedly gang raped in front of her children in a private bus in Davanagere, Karnataka. The police have arrested three suspects as the case unfolds. Local authorities initially attempted to conceal the incident.
Key Takeaways
- A woman was gang raped in front of her children.
- Incident occurred in a private bus in Davanagere.
- Three accused arrested, one has prior cases.
- Local police allegedly tried to downplay the situation.
- SP intervention led to action against the accused.
Davanagere (Karnataka), April 4 (NationPress) In a disturbing turn of events, a woman was reportedly gang raped in the presence of her two sons aboard a private bus in Karnataka's Davanagere district. Authorities have arrested three individuals linked to the crime.
As per reports, the victim was on her way home with her children after visiting the renowned Ucchangidurga temple, situated in Harapanahalli within the Davanagere district.
The driver, conductor, and assistant of the bus allegedly assaulted her near Channapura village, which is adjacent to Davanagere city.
In a shocking revelation, it has been alleged that local police attempted to downplay the situation, and only after intervention from Vijayanagar SP, Shrihari Babu B.L., did action commence.
Initial reports suggest that the victim, originally from Vijayanagar district, attended a religious fair at the famous Ucchangidurga temple with her two children on March 31. After a delay, she boarded the final bus to Davanagere.
At the time, there were seven to eight individuals on the bus. Once the other passengers left, the accused executed their heinous act. Sources indicate that the driver diverted the bus to a secluded area near Channapura, silencing the children by stuffing cloth in their mouths. They also bound their hands and gang raped their mother in their presence.
Fortunately, farmers working in nearby fields and passers-by rushed to the scene, managing to rescue the woman.
The three suspects – driver Prakash Madivalara, conductor Suresh, and helper Rajashekar – were apprehended and handed over to the Arasikere police. Reports indicate that one of the suspects has seven previous cases against him.
Despite locals notifying the police and transferring the suspects to the jurisdictional Arasikere Police, the case was allegedly not registered initially. They purportedly obtained the victim's signature on a blank document.
The police are said to have provided her with Rs 2,000 and instructed her to buy new clothes as her own were torn. Additionally, they allegedly urged her not to pursue the matter further, claiming it would complicate her life.
Following this, she was returned to the Ucchangidurga temple. The police reportedly informed her they would contact her when needed and asked her to return home. The victim spent the night at the temple with her children, while the accused were allegedly set free.
Some local Dalit leaders learned of the woman and her sons' prolonged stay at the temple and reached out to her.
Subsequently, these leaders notified Vijayanagara SP, Shrihari Babu, about the incident.
Upon receiving the information, SP Shrihari Babu requested the victim and Dalit leaders to visit the Arasikere police station. He arrived at the station, and under his supervision, the victim's account was recorded, leading to the re-arrest of the suspects.
In another alarming incident, a young woman migrant laborer from Bihar was kidnapped and raped while searching for food alongside her brother near a railway station in Bengaluru on Thursday morning.
