Cases of sexual assault on minors trigger political storm in Belagavi

Belagavi: A spate of sexual assaults on minor girls reported in Belagavi taluk over the past month, coupled with allegations of police leniency under political pressure, snowballed into a major political controversy.In one case registered on a complaint by the mother of a minor girl at APMC police station, both the Karnataka high court and the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights took cognisance, considering the media reports and sought detailed reports. Acting on directions from the two constitutional authorities, the police department initiated a fresh investigation on Tuesday.Deputy superintendent of police J Raghu initiated the investigation by recording statements from staff and officials of APMC police station, as well as from the survivor's family from Kangali (KH) village. Police are facing allegations of undue delay in registering the FIR and conducting the mandatory medical examination, despite the case involving kidnapping and offences under the Pocso Act.The department also came under fire in another case from Belagundi village, where the accused, reportedly a school headmaster, was released on station bail despite the registration of a Pocso case. The alleged leniency drew sharp political reactions.The BJP intensified its attack, with former MLA Sanjay Patil accusing a local MLA and women and child welfare minister Laxmi Hebbalkar of exerting pressure on police officials to secure the accused's release. Patil alleged that the accused is a supporter of the minister.On Wednesday, Belagavi South MLA Abhay Patil criticised political interference in such cases, without naming the minister. "Politicians should not cross the line in the name of supporting their followers. If leaders begin shielding those accused of sexually harassing minor girls, they must reflect on the kind of society they are creating," he said.He also urged police to act strictly without showing any leniency. "These are crimes against our girls. I appeal to home minister G Parameshwara to suspend erring police officials who fail in their duty," Abhay Patil said.