Missing girls spark tension

Missing girls spark tension
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: About 20 persons were injured and 25 houses and shops were ransacked in Tilaknagar when an enraged mob indulged in vandalism, alleging police negligence in investigating the disappearance of two girls.

Timely intervention by the police averted a communal clash in the area, which is known to be sensitive.

Police said a rumour about the death of one of the girls had caused the violence, but it turned out that she had been rescued the night before.

On June 1, a complaint was registered with the Tilaknagar police regarding the disappearance of an eighth standard girl. To the shock of the residents, barely four days later another girl went missing.

Residents had staged a protest in front of the police station, demanding that the police register a case of kidnapping. The parents had alleged that despite giving the names of a few suspects, the police had registered a missing complaint.

On Friday afternoon, soon after prayers at the mosque, a rumour spread that one of the missing girls had been murdered. An enraged group turned its ire on motorists, shops and houses, particularly towards those belonging to the suspects and their community. The mob ransacked a bakery in front of Jayanagar General Hospital.

The police swiftly covered the area and dispersed the crowd, but by that time, 15 vehicles, including a car and BMP lorries, had been damaged.

DCP (South) Alok Kumar told this paper that the girl reported missing on June 5 had been rescued near Chennai and was brought to the city on Thursday night.

"We had not informed the parents about this, anticipating that it could have led to violence. But, unfortunately, a rumour about the death of the girl sparked the tension. We have sent the girl for a medical examination, while a youth and his two associates have been taken into custody," he said.

He said that the situation in the area was tense, but under control. Adequate police force has been deployed and nearly 25 persons have been taken into custody. Alok Kumar also said that a search was on to trace the other girl.