Mangaluru, 8 July

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a college student in Puttur Dakshina Kannada resulting in her pregnancy. Krishna J Rao, the principal suspect, was apprehended on 4 July in T Narasipura, Mysuru district, and has since been brought to Mangaluru for further investigation. The distressing case emerged when the victim, who is studying in Mangaluru, unexpectedly gave birth at a private hospital, igniting outrage among local residents, civil society groups, and political figures in the Puttur region. The student has formally accused Rao, a resident of Bappalige, of rape. Police reported that Rao had been evading arrest since a case was filed on 24 June, leading to charges under Sections 64(1) (rape) and 69 (sexual intercourse obtained through deceitful means) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Further legal proceedings are ongoing.