Bengaluru: Thanks to CCTV camera footage, the city police have managed to nab four men for brutally molesting a woman in Kammanahalli within 48 hours of the crime and is on the hunt for two more involved in the horrifying incident.
All are booked under IPC 341, 354 (A), (B) r/w 34 of the IPC
The four arrested are a delivery boy, Ayyappa, 19 , a B.Com student, Leno, 20 , another delivery boy, Sudesh, and a helper with a private company, Somashekar. All four have been booked under sections 341, 354 (A), (B) read with section 34 of the IPC.
Acting swiftly in the matter, the police had registered a suo motu case based on the CCTV footage provided to it by a local resident, Prashanth Francis, who had installed the cameras to keep a check on those damaging his car parked on the 5th Main Road in the area.
While thanking Mr Francis for his help, city police commissioner, Praveen Sood revealed that the four men arrested had been stalking the woman for four or five days before attacking her. “It is a clear case of molestation. We did not delay even a moment after seeing the CCTV footage. A suo motu case was registered and investigation was set in motion. The accused were in a group, and had been following the woman for some time before the heinous incident. We have booked all the four on the same charges as the prime accused as they had planned it together,” the commissioner added. As for the victim, he said, they were in touch with her and doing their best to give her the confidence to participate in the investigation. While refusing to divulge any information about the woman, Mr Sood only said she had arrived in Bengaluru just a week before her dreadful experience.
The Good Samaritans who cracked case
Inspector Srinivas (left) and Prasanth Francis
If it was not for the CCTV installed by the Prashanth Francis, a resident of Bansawadi, to keep a tab on his car parked outside his house, the heinous attack on the woman in Kamanahalli may have gone unreported.
However, Prashanth was shell shocked on watching the footage and was clueless about how to help the victim.
He was helped by Hennur police inspector T. Srinivas in getting the case filed.
Srinivas told Deccan Chronicle the footage also revealed the involvement of six people, he added. “It was very thoughtful of Prashanth to share the footage and call a police officer,” he said.
Prashanth told Deccan Chronicle that the victim along with her friend approached him on January 1, requesting him to check CCTV footage. The girl wanted to trace her lost wallet and also know about the registration number of the scooter used during the assault. Unfortunately, it was not visible, he added.
“The victim refused to lodge a complaint despite my insistence. Considering her safety and to nail the culprits, I called up one of my police friends. I am happy the footage helped the cops nab the culprits,” he said.
According to police sources, the accused were nabbed after they were captured on a CCTV in front a hotel near the crime scene.
The police had picked up a person spotted on the CCTV footage, and he provided vital information about the accused.
If this is not proof, then what is?
The two incidents, which have scarred the image of brand Bengaluru, have to do with the safety of women but they are two entirely different cases, said Bengaluru Police Commissioner Praveen Sood.
The photograph of distraught woman being comforted by policewoman on the iconic M.G.- Brigade Road New Year’s Eve
City police commissioner, Praveen Sood reiterated on Thursday that there was no evidence of molestation of women out celebrating on New Year’s eve on MG Road and Brigade Road going by the CCTV footage. “We analysed the CCTV footage and did not see any molestation taking place as alleged in media reports,” he said. Also none of the women approaching news channels and newspapers to complain about the molestation, had come forward to lodge complaints, he added. “We have suo motu registered four cases based on media reports. If they want justice all the victims must approach the police,” he said . He urged the media to provide details of the women, who had contacted it to complain about the molestation. Recalling that members of the media were present when he and a few of his colleagues took charge of their new postings on January 1, he regretted that none of them had brought the New Year's eve incidents to his notice.
