Media quiet on Manipal: Activists

The rape of a medical student, who was abducted from Manipal University campus on June 20 has failed to garner the kind of response and public activism that was seen in the case of the Delhi gangrape incident.

Social and media activists said there is hardly any activism surrounding the incident, wherein three men abducted the girl in an autorickshaw within the varsity campus and allegedly raped her. None of the national channels have done as much as a running a story that could have made an impact like in the Delhi rape case, the activists said.

“Manipal is a place where a majority of the people live on campus and comprise young adults who are educated and empowered. They need to articulate. Allowing them to do that makes a responsible system,” Vidya Dinakar, a social activist, told dna.

Writer and women’s activist, Vydehi, who stays in Manipal, expressed shock over the incident. “How many people can start shouting from the rooftops! How many people can come together fighting against this evil and for how long! These are questions needing articulations within a micro level society like in Manipal.

“When they are answered, we will arrive at a social model to overcome and counter elements that commit crimes against women. I feel every town and village should have a group of conscientious men and women who must stand up against such evils,” she said.

Meanwhile, on the investigation front, the police have started questioning a few persons in the hope of gaining some leads in the case.

“A lot of spade work has been done in the past two days in this case. We are now getting definite leads, which will yield results soon,” Pratap Reddy, inspector general of police (Western Range) told dna.