Series of rapes rocks Karimnagar

In a shocking development, the north Telangana district has witnessed five assaults on women, including rape and gang-rapes, within a span of 20 days

Karimnagar: In a morbid development, Karimnagar district, known for its scenic beauty and numerous pilgrim centres, has been witnessing horrid incidents of atrocities against women, of late. Putting the civil administration and police to shame, a total of five rape incidents were taken place within a span of 20 days. Out of five, three were gang rapes and in once incident, a five-years-old girl was also molested.

A youth was arrested and two juveniles were taken into custody in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a 22-year-old woman, who was preparing for police recruitment examination at a coaching class in Karimnagar district. Incident took place three weeks ago, but came to light only three days ago.

The victim, who belongs to scheduled caste, was allegedly gang-raped by G Srinivas and a 17-year-old boy. While the two assailants committed the offence, another 17-year-old boy had allegedly recorded the act on his mobile phone.

They were thrashed by the relatives of the girl on February 24 for harassing her by threatening to upload the video on internet if she failed to fulfill their desire. The three were booked under SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, IT Act and Section 376 of IPC for the assault.

However, relatives of the girl alleged that the incident might have averted if the police responded immediately to the phone call made by a friend of the victim. Another girl (20), a resident of Yelbaka, was also lured by Srinivas but she escaped and alerted the local cops over phone but they did not respond, the girl’s relatives alleged.

Contrary to the relatives’ allegation, Huzurabad DSP M Ravinder Reddy said that they had immediately responded after coming to know about the incident on February 24 and registered cases against the youth.

In another incident, a notorious criminal Khaleed, along with four others, sexually abused a girl near the Housing Board Colony in Karimnagar town on February 22. When her parents went to attend a birthday celebration, Khaleed and his gang attacked the woman and her boyfriend. Later, local people caught hold of Khaleed and thrashed him black and blue, and subsequently one of his legs was amputated in the hospital, source said.

Similarly, a married woman, who was searching for her husband, was raped by two persons in Lower Manair Dam on February 7. The lady, a native of Siddipet of Medak district, recently came to Karimnagar to her husband’s house, only to find his house vacant. She was living with her parents as she developed differences with her husband Gundevani Srinivas.

She began searching for her husband by taking shelter in bus station. At around 9.30, two youth, Sai and Naveen, approached her and took her along with them by promising to show her husband. They directly took her to the dam and molested. She lodged a complaint with one town police.

In another incident, a man, Mallesh, allegedly molested a 19 year-old girl on February 23, in Madaka village under Pothkapalli police station limits. As the victim does not have parents, she is staying with her grandmother. Based on the victim’s complaint, Mallesh was booked under Sections 354 and 506 of IPC.

In yet another incident, a five-year-old-girl was assaulted before being throttled by one Jakkula Venkataswamy on Saturday night.

Parents of the girl found the body in the house of the accused on Sunday morning.

Women organisations and Civil Liberties Committee alleged that the police were remaining spectators while atrocities against women had been on the rise.