Mangalore: The All College students association staged a demonstration on Thursday July 17 to demand justice for Rathna Kottary, who was mysteriously found dead near her house in Byndoor.

Around 100 students gathered and protested near the Mahatma Gandhi Statue at Lalbagh, in the city and lit candles.

Addressing the protest, Dinakar Shetty, president of the Union said that there has been an immense rise in the crime rate against women. The numbers of rape cases as well as atrocities against women are increasing, thus measures must be taken right away, he stated.

He further questioned the police department on the delay of the investigation in the Rathna Kottary case and also pointed out other cases such as the Sowjanya rape and murder, Akshata’s case, etc. He also blamed the drug mafia, stating that drugs are the reason for the increase in sexual assaults in the district.

The Bangalore rape case is also an example of the failure of the state government. In Dakshina Kannada, we have seen so many cases of sexual assault but no one is ever convicted. Rathna’s case should be tried in a fast track court and justice should be done without any delay, he concluded.

Earlier Reports

On July 12, 17-year-old Rathna Kottary was found dead in a forest area at Alandoor near Byndoor, three days after she went missing. It was suspected to be rape and murder case, but the police are yet to achieve any breakthrough, and even the forensic report is still awaited.

Rathna was a student of Shiroor Pre University College.