Religious heads to protest against increase in rape cases across Kalaburagi

To express their concern over the rise in the number of sexual assault cases across Kalaburagi district, religious leaders of various mutts plan to stage a protest at the district headquarters on Monday.

To express their concern over the rise in the number of sexual assault cases across Kalaburagi district, religious leaders of various mutts plan to stage a protest at the district headquarters on Monday.

Siddaling Swami of Karuneshwar mutt, Gurumurthy Shivacharya of Pala, and Baliram Maharaj addressing presspersons here on Saturday, cited the examples of cases reported in Kalaburagi district in the recent past where a 11-year-old student was sexually assaulted by her teacher at Yaddrami last week, a 75-year-old woman was brutally raped at Chincholi taluk in November and a newborn abducted from Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) hospital, and alleged that the law and order has collapsed in the district. Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge who always speaks about the Indian Constitution and various issues, has turned a blind eye to these heinous crimes reported in his own district.

Siddaling Swami said the factors affecting police efficiency in the district was the interference of political leaders. There have been instances of police officers seriously wanting to solve cases, but the political leaders and their close aides prevented them from doing so to achieve a desired outcome.

Whosoever tries to raise voice against the Congress-led government and their leaders, is being targeted with false cases to suppress their voice. Accusing the State government of showing lack of tolerance towards religious heads, Siddaling Swami asked the government and its leaders to learn to tolerate criticism.

Baliram Maharaj and Shreedharanand Swami said that rape cases are increasing by the day but the people have not woken up to this. “We feel our mothers, sisters and daughters are not safe, the government and police who are supposed to provide justice are now coming in the way of those seeking justice and protecting the accused instead of victims.”

The religious heads appealed to the common people to participate in large numbers and express their solidarity to the protest rally from Banjara Bhavan to the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Monday.