Home stay attack victims accuse police of not helping them

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Aug 11, 2012: Vijay Kumar, one of the victims of the Mangalore home stay attack, addressed reporters at a press meet held at Press Club on Aug 11, Saturday and stated that the police had not helped the victims even when Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) activists were dragging the girls in front of them.

Responding to HJV allegations that the young people were involved in illegal activities and had drugs on the premises, he said that they had only liquor on the premises and were not involved in any illegal activity. The revelers were only drinking beer, he added.

 

Gurudutt Kamath, another victim of the assault, said that one of their friends had suggested Morning Mist Home Stay as an ideal place to hold a birthday party. They had booked it at 1:30 p.m. and had reached the venue at 2:30 p.m. with Vijay and nine friends of a girl who was also celebrating her birthday on that day. After the birthday girl cut the cake, Gurudutt left the place with Vijay and returned at 5:30 p.m. with three more friends to celebrate Vijay’s birthday. A few friends from the birthday girl’s party had left the venue at that time.

When HJV activists attacked them, 13 of them, including seven boys and five girls were present. The attackers stole a gold chain, two wallets with Rs. 5,000 in them, a license, and two mobile phones from them, he stated. 

Stating that the home stay charges Rs. 5000, he said that they had booked it for only one day and the two young people who were celebrating their birthdays had shared the cost. When the girls were celebrating the birthday and the boys were outside, a mob of 30 – 40 people arrived and began assaulting them even before they could say anything.

Stating that he has no hopes that the police department will help them, he said that the State Women’s Commission Chairperson C. Manjula has submitted her report without even speaking to the girl victims.

Vijay said that they have not received any threatening calls from the organization or the attackers. He also clarified that the girls had not come to the party in their college uniforms.

He also said that the police have not yet arrested many people and the man who stole the gold chain is still roaming around free. Demanding CBI enquiry into the attack, he said that he will sue the police in court and will also lodge a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

Avron Lorna Rosario, a final year human resource student at SDM College, said that he was outside the gates of the home stay at 7:00 p.m. and had gone out to purchase the cake. He was just about to go in when he saw a few police vehicles and groups of people standing around, felt scared, and rode till Padil Junction. When he returned at 7:30 p.m., he saw that the mob was attacking the young people inside the home stay, he said.