Udupi: Teenage Girl Sexually Harassed by Person of Different Community; Protest in Shriva

By Shivakumar Hosangadi
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 20 Jan 2014: The local residents of Shirva, near here are protesting on Monday January 20, against the sexual harassment of a teenaged girl in a bus by a person of different community on Sunday January 19.

 

Highlights of incident

·         A thirteen-year-old girl was subjected to sexual harassment in a private bus on Sunday night.
·         Police booked the case under IPC section 354
·         Shops closed from Monday from 7.00am to 6.00pm.
·         Communal disharmony reignited
·         Group clashes; police resort to baton charge

 

Background of case

 

A girl student thirteen-year-old Prameela (name changed) is studying in Class VIII at St Lawrence High School, Moodubelle.  She was gone to Kaup along with her father, where they bought some clothes and were returning in a private bus at about 8.35pm on Sunday, when fifty-six-year-old Mohammed Abdulla yane Shammi, a local resident of Shirva sexually abused her.  The girl reported the matter to the bus conductor Chandrahas who informed the police.

 

Shirva police arrested the accused Mohammed Abdulla and booked a case under IPC section 354 (A).

 

Meanwhile, Hindu outfits and other voluntary organizations are observing thirteen-hour-bandh in Shirva town, condemning the incident as the accused has been involved in such acts several times in the past in otherwise peaceful Shirva locality.  A group of men tried to cause clashes in front of Mattar masjid, when the policemen led by Karkal DySP Annamalai rushed to the spot and curbed the situation that seems to be burning fire covered in ashes.  The additional police forces arrived from Mangalore, Udupi, Karkal and Kundapur and are camping at the location.

 

 

The shops remained closed except pharmacy and clinics from 7.00am to 6.00pm on Monday.

 

The local leaders Satish Kutyar, Udupi renowned advocate Mattar Ratnakar Hegde, Nilawar temple managing trustee Suprasad Shetty, Mahila Mandali president Varija, entrepreneur Yogish Kaup, Shirva – Mattar Bajrang Dal convener Jayaprakash Prabhu Shirva, advocate Santosh Kumar Moodubelle, students, public transport owners, drivers, members of different social welfare and voluntary organizations and general public were present on the occasion.