Students stage stir against rise in atrocities on women

Recent victim Sowmya was former student of St Anns institutions

 Condeming the rape and murder of 22-year-old girl from Bantwal, the students and faculty of St Ann’s institutions took out a protest rally in Mangalore on Tuesday. The rally passed through Post Office, A B Shetty Circle and culminated at the school premises.

The protesters raised slogans against increase in atrocity on women.
A silent prayer was held for the departed soul of Sowmya, who was a former student of St Ann's Teacher Training Institute, Mangalore. Sowmya had aspirations of becoming a teacher, but unfortunately was murdered on February 25, at Bantwal when she was returning home.

A few hours before the murder, the girl had come to the college to receive the certificate on the completion of her course.

“We had blessed her. We were shocked to read about the incident in the newspaper on next day,” said teacher Anita Kittur in the condolence meet.

Students from as many as 10 schools and colleges of the A C Education Society in Mangalore took part in the rally.

“We want our students and people to be aware of atrocities on women and ways to check it,” said a representative of the Society.

Students carried a placard which read: “We want to be respected,” “Give us safety” and “Live and let live.”

Addressing students, Child Welfare Committee Chairperson Asha Nayak said that the rally should not be restricted to a day.

“We have to fight against atrocities on women daily. Normally we wake up only when there is some gruesome incident. However, we tend to forget the episode after protesting. There is a need to raise against atroities unitedly. Such incidents can be curtailed only if there was support of the victims of harassment and rapes.”

“We need to help victims file complaints. If you are a witness to the incident, you should come forward to give evidence before the court,” she said.