Belthangady :A hunger strike was observed in front of the Beltangady taluk office on October 18, Friday demanding a CBI Probe into the Sowjanya rape and murder case. The agitation was jointly organised by the Students Federation of India, Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane and Belthangady unit of DYFI. The day incidentally is the birthday of Sowjanya. The protest programme was inaugurated by Shivarama Reddy, State Secretary of the CPI(M).
Addressing the protestors, Reddy said the ministers from the district are answerable as to why they took part in the public meeting convened at Ujire on October 16. He alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was putting in no effort to secure justice to Sowjanyas family.
Sowjanya’s parents Chandappa Gowda, Kusumavathi, uncle Vittal Gowda, DYFI District President Muneer Katipalla, Shekhar L, CPI leader BM Bhat, advocate Sukanya, Yadava Shetty, former Panchayat chief Dinesh Gowda, Panchayat President Janaki Janardhan Gowda, writer Athradi Amritha Shetty, former president of bar association Shivakumar, farmer leader Haridas, retired medical officer Dr Harale, CPI(M) leader Lakshman Gowda, DSS (Krishnappa founded) District Convenor Raghu Ekkar, Joint Secretary of PWD Contractors’ Association Janardhan Bangera, Mangalore city DYFI President BK Imtiyaz, Mangalore Corporator Dayananda Shetty, SFI District President Nithin Kumar and many others took part in the hunger strike.