CoD team arrives at Belthangady to investigate Sowjanya case

CoD team arrives at Belthangady to investigate Sowjanya case

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov30, 2012 : A Corps of Detectives (CoD) squad has arrived in Belthangady to investigate the rape and murder of 17-year-old Sowjanya, a student of SDM College Ujire.

CoD Inspector Gopal has received the first information report (FIR) from the local police.

Sowjanya, daughter of Chandappa Gowda, was raped and murdered on Oct 10 at Pangala in Dharmasthala.

The state government referred the case to the CoD on public demand. Although the local police had arrested Santhosh Rao as the sole accused in the case, the local people and Sowjanya’s family were not happy and felt that more people were involved. Several people felt that certain influential people, who were involved in the case, were trying to hush up things.

Sowjanya’s family and religious leaders Shri Esha Vittaldas Swamiji of Kemar Mutt and Dr. Veerendra Heggade of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala had demanded that the investigation should be handed over to a higher investigative agency. Things had gotten worse when text messages hinting that certain influential people were involved in the case began flowing from one mobile to the other. A case was also registered against Somanath Nayak, president of the Guruvayanakere Nagarika Seva Trust, for allegedly sending a text message defaming Dharmasthala. Sukesh of Guruvayanakere had lodged the complaint at the Belthangady Police Station.

The local people and Sowjanya’s family are now awaiting the CoD’s investigative report.