Bantwal, February 25: In yet another shocking incident of increasing crimes against women in Dakshina Kannada, known as the land of the educated and intelligent a young girl has been found allegedly raped and murdered in Kalladka, under Bantwal rural police limits on February 25, 2013.
The alleged rape and murder came to light when the her parents and neighbours began to search for her as she had failed to reach home from Udupi, where she was staying with her aunt. During the search they found the girl’s footwear, salwar shawl on the road leading to Kuntalagutte. As they continued their search they found the girl’s body in a small fond a little farther where her clothes were found. The body was then taken out of the pond with the help of locals. It is said that there were injury marks on her neck, strengthening the suspicion that she might have been murdered.
Police have taken into custody on suspect in this connection as the man was cited by a few locals while returning from the same evening from Kuntalagutte, where the girl’s clothes and body were found.
Vidya, one of the neighbours of the girl killed had found the girl’s mobile on the roadside near Kuntalagutte and she took the mobile home upon realizing it belonged to her neighbor so that she could give it to her. However, when the girl’s aunt called to inquire whether her niece had reached home Vidya answered in the negative and informed the girl’s parents and they began a search only to find her body in the pond.
This incident of rape and murder comes at a time when Saujanya rape and murder case of Belthangady that rocked these coastal districts, is still fresh in the minds of the people.
A case has been registered in Bantwal rural police station. Further investigations are on.
