Bengaluru : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah weighed in on the gang rape of a Muslim woman allegedly by seven individuals from the same community, Insisting that there would be no leniency for the perpetrators. Responding to allegations by BJP, Siddaramaiah refuted claims of delayed tactics and appeasement politics, asserting that all seven accused were apprehended, and an investigation was underway. He said no one, regardless of caste, community, or creed, would be slowed to take law in to their hands.

 On January 8, seven people allegedly barged into a hotel room and assaulted the woman and her male companion –an interfaith couple—in Hangal, in Havery, Karnataka.The woman was then kidnapped and allegedly gang raped at different places over the next two days. The chief minister said he would decide on forming an SIT after receving the preliminary investigation report from the police. He went on to say,” Even if I set up an SIT, the same police officers will be a part of the team.”

The victims of an alleged offence of moral policing in Hangal in Haveri district have told the court that they had suffered kidnap, attempt to murder and gang rape. The woman said whe suffered gang rape by seven accused persons. The man said that accused had tried to kill them. The police have revised the case accordingly, under section 164 of the criminal procedure code.