Homestay attack: Report speaks of ’saving the youth’

The Hindu

Bangalore, 09 Aug 2012: The Karnataka State Women’s Commission report on the attack on a group of youngsters at Morning Mist Homestay at Padil on the outskirts of Mangalore, submitted to Home Minister R. Ashok on Wednesday, speaks of “saving youth from forces that lead them astray”, even as it demands action against the police for failing to prevent the attack.

 

In the five-page report, the commission has demanded a comprehensive investigation of the incident by a police officer of the rank of Director-General of Police, the arrest of all the people named in the first information report (FIR) and action against the local Police Inspector who failed to reach the spot on time.

 

“There should be an investigation as to why there was no vigil on Subhash [Padil] and his men even though they were involved in attacks earlier as part of the Sri Rama Sene,” says the report. It does not, however, invoke the name of the Hindu Jagaran Vedike, which is allegedly responsible for the attack on July 28, anywhere.

 

Questioning motives

After these recommendations in the first two pages that are directly related to the police, the report moves on to raise questions about the owner of the ‘homestay’ and the organisers of the party.

 

The report recommends an investigation into the activities of the owner of the ‘homestay’ and asks why those who were at the party were let off by the police without confirming through a medical examination if they had smoked ganja.

 

“There should be an investigation as to whether those who had organised the party were leading the boys and girls astray,” says the report.

 

Going a step further, it says that the father of one of the girls at the party, who is a police official, should be transferred out of the district.

 

‘Exercise self-restraint’

The report says that the images of the young women being attacked were repeatedly beamed on television, which had caused much mental trauma to them and their families.

 

It has said that the media should exercise “self-restraint” and the government should call a meeting of editors in this regard.

 

In a comment that seems to hold no direct bearing to the incident in question, the commission recommends that a separate cell be set up in the Police Department to deal with cases of missing women who are trafficked, especially in border districts such as Dakshina Kannada.

 

The report says the police should keep watch on homestays and clubs that indulge in illegal activities and on individuals who lure women into illegal activities.

 

The commission’s report recommends that the educational curriculum should have a focus on creating awareness on these issues.

 

Chairperson of the women’s commission C. Manjula and member V.M. Maithili visited Mangalore on August 1 to look into the attack.

 

Ms. Manjula’s earlier statements questioning the motive of the party organisers had attracted flak for being a “diversion” from the issue of women’s rights.

 

‘Comprehensive view’

Speaking after filing the report, Ms. Manjula defended her approach saying that there was a need to take a “comprehensive view” of the situation and the report had tried to do that.