Manipal, June 22, 2013 DHNS
The police on Saturday night have taken four persons for questioning in connection with the gang-rape of an MBBS student of Manipal University here. According to sources they are said to be from Athradi and Hiriyadka.
SP Dr Boralingaiah
said that out of the eight teams that have been formed to investigate the case, three teams have been deployed to check on all the auto rickshaws in the district. “Out of the 10,000 auto rickshaws, already 3,000 have been checked so far. A meeting has also been convened with the auto drivers’ union and they have been instructed to cooperate fully,” he said.
He reiterated that no one has been arrested yet, but that some people have been taken for interrogation. Police sources said that four people are being questioned on the basis of calls made to a few students.
On the CCTV footage, he said as the lights were dim and such other issues, the footage is not clear. “Right now the focus is not on improving CCTVs but on catching the accused. We will take up this issue later. We have also asked the government to deploy more policemen as there is a shortage here, and the CM has said that it will be done in the course of the next two-three years,” he said.
IGP Pratap Reddy who was also present said that though two security men had been present at the University at the time of the incident, the information obtained from them has been minimum.
MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, district incharge minister Vinaykumar Sorake and ADGP (crime and law) Vipin Gopalkrishna were present.
Speaking on the sidelines, Sorake said, “The incident is definitely condemnable. We are coordinating with the police and I am confident that the case will be solved soon.”
Earlier news:
Earlier, the police claimed that they have gathered crucial clues in the gang-rape case. Around eight teams have been formed under Superintendent of Police M B Boralingaiah to track down the culprits behind Thursday’s incident.
IGP (Western range) Prathap Reddy, who visited the spot of the incident on Saturday, said the police are moving in the right direction.
The victim has been moved to a ward from the ICU of Kasturba Medical College Hospital (KMC) on Saturday. The victim’s belongings, like her purse and mobile phone, were collected by university guards from the place where the victim was abducted. They have been handed over to the police.
As the psychological and physical condition of the victim is of prime concern, her interrogation is being conducted cautiously. A senior woman police official is with doctors who are treating her, and is attempting to collect any crucial information from her, he added.
The victim’s condition is reported to be stable. Her recovery is being supervised by the doctors round the clock.
She had undergone minor surgery on the left foot, and is entirely out of danger. However, she is not in a condition to speak with anybody, including the police, following the incident.
