A day after a woman alleged gangrape by five men during an attack on her and her partner at a hotel in Karnataka’s Haveri district, the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Friday took suo-motu cognisance of the case and asked Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) to file a report within three days. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said, "It is really demeaning for women. Society at large is responsible and they think they can attack women at any circumstance. People can be of any faith but this is not the way to 'teach'. It is shocking that they are raping women. We are not teaching our sons how to treat a woman." She added, "The NCW has sought a report within three days and if they (police) don’t comply, a team will go to Karnataka and look into the matter." On Friday, the woman was subjected to medical tests again. A police officer said they are awaiting results. Five persons were arrested in Hanagal for allegedly barging into a hotel room and assaulting a Muslim woman and a Hindu man who had checked in together on January 8. While initially the police had registered a case based on the room boy’s complaint, the woman later in a video alleged that she was gangraped. The police later registered a case under section 376 (d) (gang rape). The issue on Friday took a political turn with BJP leaders attacking the ruling Congress government in Karnataka. Former chief minister and senior BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai alleged that the state government has double standards as far as moral policing is concerned. Claiming that crimes have increased by 30 per cent, Bommai said, “The accused gang was previously involved in similar activities.” He also demanded the government to form a special investigating team to look into such cases. "When a case of moral policing had surfaced from the coastal area, the Chief Minister had said his government would take immediate action and the same was done too. However, this time the CM has not spoken a word. The silence is a message to the police department not to act as per the law,” Bommai added. Bommai, who is also from Haveri district, alleged that the police tried to hush up the case by taking down a statement which did not contain gangrape allegations. “They only filed a case under gangrape after the woman recorded her statement before a magistrate. They should have done it first. Also, the victim had already undergone a medical test and was once again made to undergo a test. This proves that the first medical test was just an eye-wash,” he added. Meanwhile, Home Minister G Parameshara said law will take its own course. "After two days the woman approached the police and said she was gangraped. We are investigating her allegations and action will be initiated accordingly," Parameshara said.
