Manipal gang rape case: No decisive end even after 2 years

Manipal gang rape case: No decisive end even after 2 years

Mangalore Today News Network

Manipal, June 19, 2015 :  On June 20, Saturday it would be exactly two years since the Manipal gang rape case took place. Though all the accused in this case wherein a medical student of Kerala origin was  the victim, are behind bars, the case has not  yet seen a decisive end with it still in the hearing stage.

On that fateful night of June 20, 2013, the medical student who was on way to her residence from the University Library at around 11.30 pm was abducted by three men in an autorickshaw. They had then reportedly taken her to an isolated place at Onthibettu, nearly six kms from Maniopal where they gang raped her.

Within a week all three main accused namely Yogish Poojary, Hariprasad Poojary and Anand were nabbed. Balachandra, the brother of Yogish and Harindra, the brother of Hariprasad  were also arrested later on charges of destroying evidences in the case.

The trial had begun in the District and Sessions Court on January 6  last year and the victim had deposed before the court on February 3.  There were a total of 106 witnesses in this case of whom 62 were heard.

Even as the case was in hearing stage, Purushottam Poojary, the advocate for the accused had passed away in May last year.   Prabhaker Acharya is now the advocate for the accused.

The delay in completing hearing in the case even after two years has drawn flak from various corners.

Eminent writer Vaidehi says that there should be measures to ensure speedy justice in such cases.

Public Prosector TS Jithuri however states  that the court was not responsible for the delay as the accused had first moved the High Court and the state had also approached the Supreme Court over  the hearing of all witnesses in the case.