Influential family of Dharmasthala behind Sowjanya murder: Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi

Influential family of Dharmasthala behind Sowjanya murder: Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 10, 2013: Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi, a community leader and a former member of Hindu Jagarana Vedike has alleged that an influential family of Dharmasthala was behind the brutal rape and murder of Sowjanya.

Speaking at the press meet held at Press Club on October 10, Thursday he also alleged that land mafia also had a role behind the mysterious death of Ujire College student Sowjanya.”Even after a year, Sowjanya’s family has been deprived of justice due to the involvement of powerful people,” he said.

Recalling the death of Sowjanya, Thimarodi said that Sowjanya was found raped and murdered a year ago at Pangala near Dharmasthala in Beltangady Taluk on October 9, 2012. But the case still remained as unsolved mystery, he said.

Thimarodi said that the place of rape and the place where the  body of Sowjanya was found were different. “It is said that a school teacher and others who were present in the school bus of an institution run by Dharmasthala family, which happened to pass  through the same route had witnessed the kidnapping of Sowjanya, but they were deliberately pressurized to remain silent,”Thimarodi alleged.

Belthangady SI Yogish Kumar with the support of influential persons  framed a mentally ill person Santhosh Kumar Rao in the case. It is known that he never harmed anyone in the surrounding before. The case has not  been  solved despite a CoD enquiry, he added.

He also said that even after Sowjanya’s death, the college administration as directed by the influential person never allowed Sowjanya’s classmates and other students to participate in any protest. “None of her classmates or her lecturers has visited the family to express condolences to her family. They also stopped the people and auto drivers from taking  part in the protests, he alleged.

The college has not taken an initiative to provide Rs 1 lakh insurance to her family, he further alleged.

“The family of Sowjanya had filed complaint against Dheeraj Jain, Malik Jain and Udaya Jain on January 10, 2013, but no action or enquiry has been done so far,” he said.

He accused SI Yogish Kumar of trying to close the case. “He also booked false cases against the people who fought for justice. He had also visited the victim’s house for investigation and took her inner wear and left it at the crime spot. He has also hidden a note comprising of two phone numbers and did not produce it in court,” Thimarody alleged.

Though  the government handed over this case to CoD, its two officers  CID DySP Rudramuni and Jagadish were transferred, he said.

Till date a total of 450 unnatural deaths especially that of girls, have taken place in and around Dharmasthala. All these cases must be exposed and even the Sowjanya case must be handed over to CBI to ensure justice, he demanded.

Thimarody  also said that he had received threatening call from the “great family of Dharmasthala.” When  media asked about the family name, he said that it was not necessary to reveal as  everyone was aware of them or have some suspicion on them.

He also warned of resorting to mass campaign, if the family of Sowjanya does not get justice.

Sowjanya’s father Chandappa Gowda, mother Kusumavathi and uncle Vittal Gowda were present.