Bengaluru: An engineering student was allegedly raped on her college premises in Bengaluru, under the jurisdiction of Hanumanthanagar police station, police said on Friday.
The accused, identified as 21-year-old Jeevan Gowda, has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody after being produced in court.
Police said the victim and the accused were friends studying at the same college. Gowda, a classmate who had repeated a year, reportedly took the victim to the sixth floor of the college building, dragged her into a washroom, and allegedly committed the assault.
The victim initially confided in friends, who advised her to inform her parents. A complaint was subsequently lodged with the police, who acted swiftly to arrest the accused. As he was known to the victim, she did not suspect foul play and went with him willingly to the sixth floor, police said.
The incident reportedly took place on 10 October between 1.30 p.m. and 1.50 p.m., with the complaint filed on 15 October. Police have registered a case under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) for rape.
According to police, the victim had met the accused to collect her belongings. He then called her repeatedly and came to the seventh floor, where he allegedly tried to forcibly kiss her. When she resisted and attempted to leave using the lift, he followed her to the sixth floor, dragged her into a men’s washroom, and allegedly committed the crime. During the assault, the accused reportedly snatched her phone. Afterward, he called the victim and offered her pills. Police have collected statements and are continuing the investigation.
The incident has raised concerns about student safety. Responding to the rising crimes against women and minors, Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka wrote to the National Commission for Women urging urgent intervention. He noted that 979 sexual assault cases against girls have been reported in the state in just four months, with over 114 cases in Bengaluru alone, and said, “Our women and children are living in fear.”