Amid BJP protests over Belagavi incident, Dy CM says all perpetrators have been arrested

As the BJP plans a nation-wide protest over the Belagavi strip and parade incident, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said all culprits involved in the incident have been arrested and no one will be spared at any cost.

In a shocking incident, a 42-year-old woman in Belagavi district was stripped naked, attacked and paraded after her son allegedly eloped with another woman.

Speaking to ANI on Friday, the Deputy Prime Minister said, “Our government took immediate action after learning about the incident. We have arrested all the perpetrators. The law will take its course and there will be no protection for anyone. Congress is committed to ensuring the safety of women across the country.”

Earlier, speaking about the incident, Home Minister G Parameshwara said: “It is an unfortunate incident. A boy, about 24 years old, fell in love with a girl from the same village and community and fled. After an elopement, the girl's parents ransacked the boy's home and reportedly took his mother, stripping her naked before tying her to a utility pole.”

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday sent a notice to the state government regarding the Belagavi incident.

The committee requested the Congress government to submit a report on the action taken in the case within four weeks and also decided to send an inquiry team to the district.

“The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report dated December 12, 2023, that a 42-year-old woman was stripped naked, paraded naked, tied to an electricity pole and assaulted in Hosa Vantamuri village, Belagavi District. , Karnataka, after her son eloped with a girl from the same village,” the panel said in an official release.

The panel stated that the content of the news report, if true, indicates a serious violation of the victim's human rights.

“The alleged act, as reported, appears to have a stereotypical patriarchal approach, which is a clear demonstration of the violation of the victim's right to life and dignity. It is the duty of the state to protect vulnerable sections of society, especially women, children, elderly and human beings,” the NHRC said in the press release.

The panel also issued notices to the chief secretary and director general of police, seeking a detailed report within four weeks.

“It (the report) should contain the status of registration of the FIR, progress of investigation, arrest, if any, compensation under the Victim Compensation Scheme, if paid, and steps taken or to be taken to prevent such incidents in the state. ,” the NHRC further stated in its press release.

The panel also asked its DIG, Investigation, to constitute a team that would conduct a fact-finding on the ground at the earliest and submit a report within two weeks.

BJP national president JP Nadda also condemned the incident and announced the formation of a five-member committee to collect facts about the incident.

“BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda has strongly condemned the horrific incident of nude parading of a tribal woman in Belgavi, Karnataka. Such heinous crimes, especially against women, have been taking place at regular intervals since the Congress government came to power in Karnataka. This also exposes the irresponsible behavior of Congress governments across the country in tackling such crimes,” the party said in a press release.

In view of the incident, BJP MPs stepped up pressure on the Congress government in the state and staged a protest at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the new Parliament complex.

Earlier, on Friday, Prime Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday accused Nadda of resorting to politics over the Belagavi incident.

“BJP rule in Karnataka witnessed several cases of violence against women, but BJP national president JP Nadda forgot about this to attack us politically. Unfortunately, he is using a recent incident of violence against a woman in Belagavi for politics,” Siddaramaiah wrote on X. .

“The violence against a woman and her family members in Belagavi is deeply condemnable. It is shameful that BJP president Nadda is exploiting such an incident for political gains,” the CM added.

First print: December 16, 2023 | 10:51 am IST