Kundapur, June 18: Huge crowd of students supported by local leaders and the public protested on Thursday, June 18th, against the suspicious death of a PUC student Akshata Devadiga (17) on the evening of Wednesday June 17th.
Akshata, was found dead amidst the bushes in an acacia plantation near her home at Hennaberu in Ottinene near Byndoor. It is suspected that she was strangled to death while she was returning home by walk from college in the evening.
Huge crowd of students of Byndoor Junior College where Akshata was pursuing first PU (science) gathered near Byndoor circle urging for justice on Thursday morning. Supported by local political leaders, the protesters raised slogans and blocked the road. Several local women also joined this protest.
All the shops remained shut in Byndoor in support of the protest.
As the protest turned intense, SP Annamalai arrived at the spot and urged the protesters not to block the roads and sought their cooperation.
The protesters pointed out the death case of young Ratna Kottary who was found dead in a similar way near Byndoor and said the then SP Boralingaiah had promised to solve the case, but he did not succeed. They expressed fears that in Akshata’s case too, the culprits would manage to evade law.
They demanded just and speedy probe into Akshata’s death without bowing to any pressures.
The SP Annamalai assured that a detailed probe would be done by the Udupi cops and appealed to the protesters to give three days’ time the police.
The protesters agreed to this. But they warned that if the case does not see any significant progress in three days, they would intensify their protest.
Local leader Deepak Kumar Shetty said, we have given three days’ time to the police, in case we do not get justice, we will protest again.
The protesters withdrew their protest and the roads were cleared after they received assurances from the SP.
Tight security was deployed at the spot to prevent untoward incidents.
IGP pays visit to crime spot:
On Thursday, IGP Amrit Paul visited the spot where Akshata Devadiga’s body was found. SP Annamalai and other higher police officials accompanied him.
Speaking to the media, IGP Paul said, two teams have been formed to investigate the case. We are waiting for the medical report. The investigation is going on and already some clues have been gathered.
About Ratna Kottary case, he said, in the medical report, it is stated she has a natural death. The exact cause is not yet known and the investigations are still under progress.