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Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 4, 2014
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Thirthahalli-protests-delay-in-arresting-suspects/articleshow/45028025.cms
Three days after the incident came to light, Thirthahalli police are yet to register an FIR against four persons named by parents of a 14-year-old girl who died after being allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted.
The reason: The suspects are apparently politically connected. Protesting the delay in registering FIR and producing the suspects in court, college students boycotted classes in Shivamogga city and Thirthahalli shut down on Monday. The protesters said police are dragging their feet over naming the suspects, who hail from the same locality as the girl did, as they belong to another community and are politically connected. Though police have reportedly detained the four suspects, they are yet to register an FIR. Meanwhile on Monday, a copy of the girl's suicide note was released by police sources, but it was denied by Shivamogga district SP Koushalendra Kumar.
The note says the girl was ending her life as she was not good at studies. As the note was a typewritten transcript with no signature, the local BJP unit questioned its authenticity and accused the police of trying to hush up the case. The party has urged the government to hand over the case to the CBI. Koushalendra Kumar told TOI that doctors of the two hospitals that treated the girl would be summoned for questioning on Tuesday. According to the complaint lodged by the girl's father, she was kidnapped on October 29, when she was on her way to school. The girl was found abandoned in a forest in Anandagiri hill near the school. He alleged that the gang had forced her to drink some poisonous substance. The girl was taken to JC hospital in Thirthahalli and treated for fever and vomiting. As her condition worsened, she was shifted to McGann Hospital in Shivamogga.
When there was no improvement, she was shifted to a private hospital in Manipal. The police were informed over 10 hours after her death. The autopsy report from Manipal is awaited. On Monday, irate crowd assembled at important circles in Thirthahalli and pelted stones at police jeeps and set ablaze vehicle tyres. Police resorted to cane-charge to disperse the mob. The agitation spread to neighbouring villages. Considering the volatile situation, DIG-eastern range has deputed Haveri SP to Shivamogga to help in maintaining law and order. Primary and secondary education minister Kimmana Ratnakar, the MLA from Thirthahalli, said: "If the Thirthahalli hospital had informed police soon after the girl was admitted, her life would have been saved. It's unfortunate she died without producing sufficient information to nab culprits on the same day."
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