Cops checking CCTV, press photos to trace school rioters

Hosaguddadahalli, the locality which witnessed mob violence on Wednesday after a class 2 girl alleged molestation by her teacher at a private school, remained incident-free on Thursday.

The area limped back to near-normality on Thursday though there was palpable tension, what with a huge posse of policemen deployed there. At least three DCPs, five ACPs, 15 inspectors, over 80 constables as well as personnel of the Karnataka State Reserve Police KSRP and the City Armed Reserve (CAR) were deployed to ensure order.

But shops within the 100-metre radius of the school remained closed. Prohibitory orders will remain in force till Thursday midnight in JJ Nagar, Hosaguddadahalli, Kuvempu Nagar and the surrounding localities.

Police have detained at least 15 people in connection with Wednesday’s violence. They are also pursuing other people who reportedly beat up Ramakrishna, 49—the physical education teacher accused of molesting the child—damaging the school property and indulging in stone-throwing. The accused teacher is still in hospital, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Labhu Ram said.

Police are examining the footage of the CCTV cameras installed in the locality and their own devices. Besides, they are scrutinising the photographs published in newspapers in order to zero in on the rioters, a senior police officer said.
Meanwhile, Home Minister K J George, along with Police Commissioner M N Reddi and Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar, visited the locality. The minister appealed to the residents to maintain peace.

The complaint
The girl’s parents, in a complaint to the police, stated that on Tuesday, the child had returned home from school and told them that Ramakrishna had taken her into a store room in the institution and undressed her.

Thereafter, he tried to fondle her private parts. But she started crying and the suspect let her go, the parents said.

The police said the girl was subjected to medical examination and the reports were awaited. They further said they asked her a few questions “casually” but didn’t get a convincing version of the incident. They will question her again as well as the suspect to dig out the truth.

At least 22 policemen were injured in the mob violence and admitted to several hospitals. Most of them were treated as outpatients and discharged. But constable Santhosh had to undergo seven sutures on the head as he was hit by a stone.

George visited the hospitals too and enquired with the doctors about the condition of the injured.

Meanwhile, K Padmavati, Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI), Bengaluru South, said the jurisdictional Block Education Officer (BEO) had informed her that the school in question as well as other schools in Hosaguddadahalli had been instructed to remain closed till Monday.