Belagavi woman assault: Nadda visits victim, wades further into row

NT Correspondent | NT

Belagavi: A day after the winter session concluded in Belagavi, BJP leaders including the party’s national president JP Nadda visited the woman who had been assaulted near the city this past week.

Nadda was accompanied by Belagavi MP Mangal Angadi, Nippani MLA Shashikala Jolle, Mayor Shobha Somanache and Deputy Mayor Reshma Patil to the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences (BIMS) in the city where the woman is recovering from her injuries.

BJP also formed a fact-finding mission composed of MP Aparajita Sarangi, Sunita Duggal, Ranjeeta Kohli, and BJP National Secretary Asha Lakra.

The woman was stripped naked, paraded, tied to an electricity pole and beaten up in Hosa Vantamuri in Belagavi taluk in the wee hours of Monday.

The motive behind the incident appears to be the fact that the son of the woman had eloped with a girl from the mob’s family.

Both the boy and the girl come from the same Scheduled Tribe (ST) community. The girl is said to have eloped because she was supposed to be engaged to someone else in the near future.

As many as seven people have been arrested and Kakati Police Station is handling the case.

The ghastly incident has come as a shock to many as the Houses have convened for the winter session at the Suvarna Soudha near Belagavi city.

BJP violating HC directive: Siddu

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the other hand flayed Nadda and his party colleagues for violating the Karnataka High Court’s orders.

“Despite the Karnataka High Court's restrictions, the BJP leaders have visited the victimised woman who was partially stripped in a village in Belagavi district, thus not only flouting the court's directive but also displaying their insensitivity,” Siddaramaiah said.

“The Chief Justice of the High Court, while suo-motu taking cognisance of the incident, had suggested this morning that visits to the traumatised woman, who is severely distressed, should be restricted. This directive was notably given in the context of news about political leaders planning to visit the victimised woman. The Chief Justice's suggestion in this situation is noteworthy. Considering that the woman is receiving medical treatment; visitors' interactions could impact her health and treatment. Therefore, the High Court stated that it is necessary to restrict visits to the woman for her well-being,” he added.

The High Court had ordered that no individual, group, organisation, political party, or others should visit the woman without prior written permission from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the hospital responsible for her treatment.

The HC had taken suo moto cognizance of the case and issued the directive on Thursday.

“Despite this, the BJP leaders, in a move to use a tragic incident for political gain, have visited the victimised woman in the name of ‘truth-seeking’. It shows their blatant disregard to the court's orders and instructions. The insensitivity and lack of respect shown by BJP leaders and their national president J P Nadda, who is supporting this behaviour, must be condemned by everyone,” Siddaramaiah said.

Two acres land for victim

Meanwhile, Belagavi district native and Minister for Public Works Satish Jarkiholi announced that 2.03 acres of land would be given to the woman so as to help her meet her financial needs.

He added that the land would be awarded to the victim under the Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation.

Both him and Minister for Sports and Youth Empowerment B Nagendra pressed upon officials that it was a special case and that land ownership should be expedited.