M’lore: ABVP protests to seek justice on mystery death of Ratna
By Santhosh Kumar
Bellevision Media Network
Mangalore, Jul 16, 2014 : The students of different colleges across the city led by ABVP held a protest rally from Dr B R Ambedkar roundabout till Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Tuesday July 15, to urge the district administration and law enforcement agencies to seek justice on mystery death of seventeen-year-old Ratna Kottari, student of Government Pre-University College, Shiroon in Udupi district.
Ratna was the daughter of Shankar Kottari, resident of Konanamakki – Alandoor that comes at the limits of Yadtare village in Udupi district. She was reported missing since July 9, while her decomposed body was found in Thoodalli, near Alandoor, Byndoor, on Saturday July 12.
Addressing the protesters, ABVP state executive member Shyamprasad Bhat condemned the delay in solving the mystery death of Ratna by law enforcement agencies.
Shyamprasad said, ‘Many girls have been murdered or found dead in a suspicious condition in the past few years. The government is just trying to pacify the agitated family by assurances of taking stern action but that does not take place at all. The police department and the concerned officials are mum in this case. If the state administration has any morality, then speedy justice should be done in the mystery case of Ratna by arresting the accused,’ said Shyamprasad.
University College student Ashwini also spoke on the occasion expressing deep insecurity that the girls face in the society.
Ashwini said, ‘Mahatma Gandhi had said that the true freedom is reflected, when a girl is able to walk on the streets at 12-00 o’clock midnight but today it is difficult for a girl to walk at 12-00 noon. The atrocities have been reported on women repeatedly and still the government has not taken any action. The government is testing the patience of the students. If the government does not provide justice to Ratna Kottari, then it has to face a state-wide protests,’ said Ashwini.
About 700 students from Canara College, SDM College, Narayana Guru College, Ramakrishna College and University College marched from the Dr B R Ambedkar roundabout to DC office here with the slogans demanding the justice.
The protesters later submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim urging to the arrest of persons behind Ratna’s mystery death.