BELAGAVI: A day after the horrific gangrape and murder of a ninth standard schoolgirl in Vijayapura, the police are yet to arrest any of the six accused.
Tension prevailed in Vijayapura as the news of incident spread across the city on Wednesday. The family placed the body at Ambedkar Circle and demanded arrest of the culprits.
As the protest stretched on to night, district in-charge minister M.B. Patil met the protesters and family of the 14-year-old victim and vowed to initiate stringent measures to trace the culprits. He also assured to release Rs 5 lakh compensation to the family. The minister urged the police officers to bring all culprits to the book at the earliest.
Earlier on Tuesday night an angry group of people beat up two suspects outside the police station in Vijayapura, when they were brought for questioning with regard to the case.
The crime took place while the girl was returning home from school along with her friend. A group of men chased her on a bike and took her away. Four others who came in an autorickshaw also joined them. They took her to a secluded place near the school, gangraped and killed her.
The girl's friend raised an alarm, teachers and some others rushed the secluded place where the girl was taken away and found that she was lying unconscious.
Although, she was rushed to a nearby hospital, she died on the way. Medical tests revealed that she was raped and the suffocated to death.
A case of rape, murder, kidnapping besides another case under the POCSO Act have been filed against all the accused by Vijayapura police.
Police sources alleged that the culprits were tracking the girl for the past few days.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was in Vijayapura on Wednesday, condemned the gruesome incident and assured the people that the police would catch the culprits at the earliest and ensure severe punishment.
