Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has asked Karnataka DGP and Inspector General of Police Praveen Sood to visit Mysuru and hold a meeting with the local investigating officers to expedite the probe.
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Mysuru, Karnataka, India: The Mysuru gang rape victim's friend, who was with her when the crime took place earlier this week, narrated on Friday the horror was witness to. He is learnt to have told the police that the culprits were in the age-group of 25-30.
The special team investigating the case of Mysuru gang rape case has recorded the statement of the male friend of the victim, police sources said.
The youth told the police that the place they went to was familiar to him and he used to jog every day on that stretch.
"After the classes, at about 7.30 PM, we went on bike. I went in front of the JSS Ayurvedic College road and reached the spot after going through 'water tank kacha (not asphalted) road', which is known to me. We were taking a walk on that stretch when all of a sudden six men surrounded us," he told the police.
He explained that they started beating him with sticks. "One slender fellow" among them smashed his forehead with "a small boulder". He was allegedly beaten until he became unconscious. "When I woke up, I found four people surrounding me. I asked where my girlfriend is. Two of them dragged her out of the bush and laid her beside me. She seemed unconscious and there were injuries all over," he told the police.
He alleged that the accused also snatched his mobile phone and made him call his father to arrange for Rs 3 lakh immediately. It is not yet known whether they got the money before releasing the girl and her male friend, the police said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the alleged rapists had stripped the victim and made a video of the incident. They had threatened both that they would make the video viral if they spoke about it. The incident came to light after the girl was admitted to hospital for treatment of her injuries.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has instructed the state's Director General of Police, and also Inspector General of Police Praveen Sood, to visit Mysuru and hold a meeting with the investigating officers to expedite the probe.
Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, who is in Mysuru, visited the Chamundi hill area where the incident took place. Speaking to reporters, he said he had prayed to Goddess Chamundeshwari to take care of the crimes. "I have prayed to the goddess to absolutely stop crimes from taking place rather than asking just for prevention," he said. The minister also said that he had prayed before the deity to give strength to him as well as the police department.
Jnanendra added that it has become tough for the police to crack the case as they are not getting proper inputs from the victims. There is no information available on the accused persons, he said.
Additional DGP Pratap Reddy, who is in charge of the special team, said the gang rape incident is a challenging case for the police. "The officers are conducting investigations without the statement of the girl. The investigation is based on the statements of the male friend of the victim," he said.
A case has been registered under IPC 376 D (gang rape) and 397 (dacoity). Five teams have been formed to crack the case. "Bright officers" have been roped in from other districts, the police said. "The Karnataka Police have cracked many difficult cases. We will solve this case and arrest the culprits. Regain the confidence and trust of people," Reddy said.
- (With inputs from IANS)