CHITRADURGA/MYSURU: The two victims of sexual assault in the Pocso case registered against Murugha Mutt seer recorded their statements before the Children Welfare Committee in Chitradurga early Sunday.
Later, the minor girls were sent for medical examination and then sent to the government-run Bala Mandir, according to Chitradurga superintendent of police K Parashurama. Based on medical reports, action will be taken against the guilty as per the law, he added.
While the victims were accompanied by the activists of Mysuru-based NGO Odanadi Seva Samiti, which was helping the girls, it was alleged that Pocso rules were violated during the recording of the statements. They alleged that at 4.30am on Sunday, the counsellor accompanying the girls was made to stay outside.
The alleged incident involving the girls took place in a hostel in Chitradurga run by Murugha Mutt, a prominent Karnataka monastery which runs over 150 spiritual and educational institutions. Chief pontiff Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru and four others have been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act for the alleged sexual assault that took place for more than three years.
The victims, who sought the help of Odanadi to register a case, were brought from Mysuru to Chitradurga early Sunday.
Survivors were made to recount ordeal again
It is claimed that the authorities in Chitradurga didn’t follow the rules of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, and Pocso Act at the time of inquiry. “Under the law, there is a provision (for counsellors) to accompany the survivors. This was not followed in Chitradurga. We fear the survivors may be subjected to fear or influence,” said L Parashuram and KV Stanley of Odanadi.
Activists miffed
The activists claimed that the statements of the survivors were already recorded in front of the CWC in Mysuru and making them repeat the statements in Chitradurga may affect them adversely. “We don’t know why our counsellor was not allowed to accompany the victims,” they said.
“We’ll bring this lapse to the notice of Karnataka high court and Supreme Court. We want justice for these survivors,” they said.
Earlier, Chitradurga SP K Parashurama said heavy police deployment has been made around the Murugha Mutt to maintain law and order. Devotees thronged over to the mutt and expressed moral support to the embattled head pontiff, Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru.
They took out a silent march and urged the authorities not to arrest the pontiff as he has been framed in a case to defame the pontiff and the mutt.
Arrest accused immediately: DSS
Dalit Sangharsha Samiti activists urged the authorities to arrest the accused immediately as per the law and demanded a judicial inquiry into the alleged crime as they had no faith in the police.
Officers from the district women and children department and child protection unit visited the hostel in Chitradurga where the two girls were staying. They had an interaction with other hostel officers.
The officers have reportedly given informal permission for other students to voluntarily shift out from the present hostel if they have any concerns about their stay there after the incident. Some girls have returned home for the coming Gowri and Ganesh festivals, a source said.
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
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