Child rape case: Bangalore police chief shunted out

 

Bangalore, July 21, 2014 (PTI): Cracking the whip amid public outrage and protests over the alleged rape of a six-year-old girl, the Karnataka government today transferred Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar and decided to invoke the Goonda Act against the main accused, a skating instructor.

 

The top level shakeup came as an apparent fallout of mounting criticism of alleged inaction of government and police in the incident in which the first arrest was made yesterday, six days after a complaint was lodged with police.

 

Protests also turned violent today with ABVP activists clashing with police in front of Vibgyor High School, where the incident happened, leading to a baton charge, as they tried to storm into the building seeking answers from management.

 

As the issue figured in the Assembly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Goonda Act would be invoked against the accused Mustafa as he was involved in similar cases earlier.

 

"Goonda Act will be invoked on Mustafa for raping the girl in Vibgyor High School because he has been involved in such cases in previous schools where he was employed," he said.

 

31-year old Mustafa, hailing from Bihar, was arrested after eight persons, detained for questioning in connection with the incident, were interrogated.

 

The Chief Minister said government has decided to amend the Goonda Act to include persons committing rape for the first time."We have sent the proposal to the Law Department and would introduce in the House as soon as possible," he added.

 

A rash of rape cases had led to eruption of public anger which had spilled into the streets, putting pressure on the government to show results.

 

Apart from the child rape case, a 22-year old woman was allegedly raped when she was with her friend in a car after they were forcibly driven away by four men, one of whom committed the crime and 16-year old nun was allegedly raped at a seminary in recent days.

 

The government also shifted city Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Kamal Pant and brought in H C Kishore Chandra as Additional Director General of Police(Law and Order).

 

Auradkar had faced public ire during protests with parents of students at the school demanding answers for the delay in arresting the culprits and seeking swift justice. The school faced allegations that it tried to hush up the case.
Protests, meanwhile, continued in different parts of the city today.

 

ABVP activists broke barricades and tried to gain entry through another gate to the school. Policemen used lathis and chased them away, causing minor injuries to several persons in their action and the melee.

 

Protests were held at Freedom Park by BJP’s youth wing and near Town Hall by its women wing, with their activists raising slogans against Congress Government over its "failure" to curb rising sexual offences against women and children.

 

The Chief Minister also told the Assembly that the government plans to increase the number of fast-track courts to expedite cases and give speedy justice to victims in sexual offence cases.