The Hindu : Karnataka News : Justice sought for rape victims

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Friday, Aug 31, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Justice sought for rape victims

Staff Correspondent

The Praveen Shintre gang is said to be involved in rape and murder cases

Vehicular movement affected for some time as women stage demonstration
Women take out a procession seeking the immediate arrest of the gang

AGAINST CRIME: Superintendent of Police Hemant Nimbalkar (right) trying to pacify women who staged a demonstration in Belgaum on Thursday.

Belgaum: A large number of women on Thursday sought to reassure the victims of rape allegedly committed by Praveen Shintre and his gang during last the two years, including that of Sheetal Chougale of Khanapur town, that they would fight till justice was done.

The gang is said to be involved in murders too.

The women assembled at the Kannada Sahitya Bhavan and later staged a demonstration at the Rani Chennamma Circle condemning the crimes for money and lust committed by the Shintre gang.

Vehicular movement was affected for some time.

They took out a procession to the Deputy Commissioner’s and the Regional Commissioner’s offices and submitted a memorandum demanding immediate arrest of Praveen Shintre and his gang.

They also staged a demonstration in front of the Bar Association on the court premises and urged advocates against lending legal counsel either to Praveen Shintre or his gang members.

The protest was organised under the banner of Priyadarshini Mahila Cooperative Society and led by Ujwala Kalkundrikar, Sudha Deshpande, Anandatayi Gadgil and Ashwini L.

The former Mayor, Vijay Pandurang More, and Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi leader Deepak Dalvi and other social workers also joined the protest.

Superintendent of Police Hemant Nimbalkar, who rushed to Rani Chennamma Circle, had a tough time in convincing the protesting women that the police had expedited investigation in the matter.

He told them that he was equally concerned with what had happened to Sheetal Chougale and the other victims of the gang.

Stating that efforts were on to trace the absconding Praveen Shintre and his gang members, he said the police had arrested five members of the gang. However, the women refused to heed the request of the Superintendent of Police to withdraw the Belgaum bandh call.

They said they would go ahead with the bandh on Friday.

It was being organised to pay tributes to the victims and also elicit people’s support in their fight for justice.

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