Search for NLSIU student's 'molesters' intensified

The West Division police have intensified the search for the gang which allegedly molested a student of the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Sunday night.

“Our teams have intensified the search operations. We have questioned several youths staying in and around the Jnanabharathi campus,” said DCP (West) S N Siddaramappa.

Dismissing reports that the police had taken a few youths into custody, Siddaramappa clarified that “they had not taken anybody into custody.”

Sources in the police department claimed that the medical test reports were submitted to the police and the reports did not confirm the sexual assault. However, the DCP told Deccan Herald, “I am not aware of any such report as yet.”

Police are tracking the boys staying in two hostels, including the one owned by Sports Authority of India. These are the hostels where students, who support a top officer in Bangalore University involved in controversies, stay.

The police also collected phone call details of persons who were moving in the area around the time of the incident.

 They picked up a few youths for questioning based on the call details, said an investigating officer. “Police were never completely convinced about sexual assault by an eight-member gang.

There were no proofs to justify the victim’s statement,” an officer said. However, the police are in a tight spot as there is a court order that the victim’s statement must be respected.

“Many boys indulge in eve-teasing in the area. The girl might have been upset with some of them for teasing her and may have decided to teach them a lesson. Hence, she claims that she can identify the miscreants. It may also be true that the gang members attempted to molest her,” the officer said.

A few girls of the NLSIU expressed displeasure over reports that medical test reports did not confirm the assault. Doctors have their own ways of analysing things. One should wait till final reports come from the forensic science laboratory. “It is too early to jump to conclusions,” they said.

BU students stage protest

More than 300 students of the Bangalore University staged a dharna in front of the Jnanabharathi Girls’ Hostel demanding better security on the campus. The students said they were scared to move on the campus at night and that police patrolling needed to be stepped up.

BU registrar Mylarappa said he had requested officials of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, NLSIU and Institute for Social and Economic Change and police authorities to attend a meeting on Wednesday to discuss security measures.

He said the proposal to set up more police checkposts would be discussed at the meeting. The expenses for the security would be shared by all the three institutions.