Homestay attack took place in front of police

Even as a debate is on about the police arrival at Morning Mist homestay, an eyewitness to the entire incident has revealed that the attackers (Hindu Jagarana Vedike activists) assaulted the partying youths much after the cops arrived at the spot. 

The victims have demanded a CBI probe as they are doubtful of getting justice at the hands of the local police investigating the incident. 

At a press conference here on Saturday, Avron Lawrence Rosario, student of a city college, who was supposed to attend the birthday party of Vijaykumar, said that he was approaching the homestay with the birthday cake and coke bottles when he saw a black YBX Yamaha bike (the rider was giving direction to the police jeep driver) followed by a police jeep with five people, including the driver, entering the homestay compound. 

Stating that the rider and police jeep arrived around 7 pm, Rosario said the police took a long time to enter the house and were very much present when the attackers were assaulting the victims.

Vijaykumar, who was present at the press conference, also alleged that the attackers assaulted him and others in the presence of police.

Mute witnesses

“When the attackers were assaulting us, the police personnel were mute witnesses,” Vijaykumar said.  

The police inspector as well as other police personnel too slapped him after closing the doors.

 “Instead of arresting the assaulters, the police asked the attackers to leave the premises immediately.”

Expressing apprehensions over getting justice if the local police were allowed to continue the probe, Gurudatt Kamath (another victim) demanded a CBI probe into the incident. 

He demanded that the case should be handed over to a fast-track court so that quick action could be taken against the accused.

To a query, he said that the victims would also approach the Human Rights Commission against the police inaction as well as the way they were treated in the police station. 

 “Even the next day, the cops abused us when we visited the police station,” he alleged.

Gurudatt and Vijaykumar said the attackers had molested the girls. The attackers would have raped the girls if the cameras (media persons) were not present, Gurudatt and Vijaykumar added.

Contrary to a report of State Women’s Commission Chairperson that only one party was going on at Morning Mist homestay, Vijaykumar, one of the youths who was attacked, said that there were two get-togethers planned on the day (July 28), one he had organised and the other by Sanjana, who was another victim, reports DHNS. 

Sanjana was to celebrate her birthday from 2:30 pm to 7 pm and Vijaykumar was to celebrate his birthday with his friends from 7:30 pm till late night. “The incident happened when Sanjana and friends were about to leave and moments before my birthday party was to begin,” he said. 

He knew Sanjana as both of them work as event organisers.Six girls and four boys were present in Sanjana’s party.  A boy and a girl left around 6 pm. Five boys had arrived for Vijaykumar’s party and five more were yet to come when the incident happened. Hence, eight persons (five girls and three boys) from Sanjana’s party and five from Vijaykumar’s get-together became victims of attackers.