Manipal rape victim refuses to speak

The Manipal rape victim refused to entertain the chairperson of the Kerala State Women’s Commission, who tried to meet her at the Kasturba Hospital in Manipal on Saturday.

The victim’s silence, coupled with her reluctance to file a police complaint, has sparked off rumours about the rapists having bought her silence.

Sources privy to the investigation claimed that the victim was silenced by her perpetrators, who threatened to kill her if she divulged any information about them to anyone.

“I respect her sentiments and her need for privacy at this difficult phase of life. We will try again to elicit information from her at her convenience and report the matter to the chief minister,” said the chairperson KC Rosakutty, after the victim’s parents sent her back saying they would inform her if the victim wanted to talk to the commission at a later point of time.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) deputed its member Shamina Shafiq to take a closer look at the abduction and rape of the medical student.

“The NCW has taken a serious note of the issue. I have deputed my colleague on the commission, Shamina Shafiqe, to take a closer look at the incident and submit a report. She will arrive in Manipal soon,” said Mamata Sharma, chairperson of NCW, Delhi.

Blame-game begins
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sri Ram Reddy accused the university and the Karnataka state home minister for trying to hush up the incident to protect the potential of the state as a developing educational tourism destination.

“State home minister KJ George forgets that the state’s image has already taken a beating and all he can do to prevent further damage is to come out with facts in public domain,” he said.

“Rape cases should be tried in fast track courts. In the Manipal rape case, the university and the state home ministry should take immediate measures to strengthen the security of other girl students as they could be vulnerable for such attacks in the future. The All India Democratic Women’s Association is preparing to launch a movement against rapes in Karnataka in the backdrop of the Manipal rape incident,” said CPI (M) politburo member Brinda Karat.