Udupi: Three arrested in Manipal gangrape case

Bellevision Media Network

 

Udupi, 27 Jun 2013: Cracking the case after a week, police today arrested three men in connection with the abduction and gangrape of a 22-year-old medical student, with two of them allegedly making a futile suicide bid.

 

The breakthrough came as an accused Yogesh Shantappa Poojari (30), consumed poison and made a call to the Udupi Superintendent of Police’s office in the morning, confessing to his crime, IGP (Western Range) Pratap Reddy told reporters.

 

Yogesh Shantappa Poojari

 

"He first consumed poison and then gave a call to us. He was groaning over phone and heard him saying the police will catch him, but will not let that happen," he said.

 

Police located Yogesh’s house through mobile tracker and rushed him to hospital, Reddy said, adding, he was now stable and recuperating.

 

"In fact Hariprasad was questioned earlier while interrogating auto drivers," he said. Yogesh and Hariprasad were auto-rikshaw drivers who had criminal records, he said. Both were arrested in Udupi.

 

After the two arrests, the third accused -- Anand (28) -- was nabbed from Sannakkibettu village near here while he was allegedly making an attempt to hang himself.

 

"The police, who were searching for him since morning near Onthibettu village, made timely intervention and prevented him from committing suicide. Anand has been rushed to KMC hospital and is undergoing treatment," he said.

 

Earlier in Bangalore, before the arrests were announced, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the accused would be tried by a fast-track court.

 

Reddy said the abduction and gangrape of the girl was not pre-planned.

 

"The accused had kidnapped and raped the girl under the influence of alcohol," he said, adding that the auto-rickshaw used in the crime has been found.

 

 

The medical student from Kerala was abducted from the Manipal University campus and gangraped when she was returning to her room on June 20. The incident had triggered outrage and protests. Twelve police teams with 200 persons were working on the case.

 

Reddy said the police is hoping to get cooperation from the girl as it has been difficult for it to elicit vital clues for further investigation.

 

"There are many legal procedures to ensure justice to the victim. We need to bring the victim for identification and verify the crime spot," he said.