Haveri, 15 Jan

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said there was no question of sparing anyone involved in the gang rape of a woman allegedly by six youth in Haveri district.

Six people allegedly barged into a hotel room and assaulted an inter-faith couple during their stay in Hanagal Taluk of Haveri district on 8 January, following which two of them have been arrested. BJP has accused that attempts are being made to hush up the case.

“We have arrested all the accused people. Investigation is going on. We will not allow anyone to take law into their hands irrespective of the faith and caste they belong to," the Chief Minister said here. Siddaramaiah said the government will take action as per law.

On the question of no one from the government having consoled her or offered any relief, the Chief Minister said he received the application just now and government will consider her plea.

Regarding the BJP's demand for setting up a Special Investigation Team (SIT), Siddaramaiah said those investigating the case now are police and those who will be part of the SIT will be police only. “Investigations are going on. Let the preliminary investigation report come out. Just because former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has demanded an SIT probe we will not form it," the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, the 26-year-old survivor alleged that no protection was given to her when she was taken home. She also said at least two accused whose photographs police showed her were not involved in the crime. The survivor also charged that the police were not investigating the case seriously.

According to the survivor, the incident happened on 8 January. At 1pm, she checked into the hotel room with a KSRTC driver aged 40, with whom she has been in a relationship for the past three years, they said. The entire assault which happened inside the hotel room was filmed by the gang.

About the 2024 budget, Siddaramaiah said since the code of conduct of the upcoming Lok Sabha election will be in place from the first week of March, the budget will be presented in February itself.

Responding to the protests that the farmers have not been compensated, he said the temporary compensation of Rs 2,000 will be given to the farmers and after the compensation is received from the Central government, the compensation will be given again as per the NDRF regulations. —Salar News/PTI